Stuttgart (dpa) - The head of Germany's BND intelligence service on Friday warned of potential cyber attacks on liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, as methods of cross border conflict diversify.

It became apparent since Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022that the war in cyberspace is becoming more international and leaving traces beyond the actual crisis region, Bruno Kahl told a security forum in the southern German city of Stuttgart.

"And beyond the known spectrum, the new facilities for landing liquefied gas must also be considered as possible further targets," the BND chief added.

Germany is counting on LNG as one alternative to Russian gas supplies since Europe slashed imports as a response of the Kremlin's war against Ukraine. To help make up the loss, Germany in June signed a 20-year deal with US LNG developer Venture Global, making it the country's largest LNG supplier.

Germany is now rapidly building its own infrastructure for the imports. In addition to three LNG terminals in the North and Baltic Seaports of Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbttel and Lubmin, further facilities are planned.

Kahl said he still regards Russia and China as the biggest cyber threats tohis country.

"State actors from both countries are intensively active in cyber space to harm politics, administration, the economy, research and also society in Germany," he said.

However, attacks by smaller states such as Vietnam, North Korea and Iran are also conspicuous, according to Kahl.