Germany has arrested former foreign intelligence chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining state secrets for a foreign intelligence service. Federal prosecutors said authorities detained the 80-year-old former BND chief on Tuesday as part of a major investigation.
Hanning led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, from 1998 to 2005. Prosecutors also arrested his former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., who allegedly supplied classified information to Hanning in exchange for payments.
Former BND Official Allegedly Shared Secrets
According to prosecutors, Manfred D. provided Hanning with around 2,000 documents over several years. Many of the documents contained classified information intended for internal BND use and intelligence briefings for senior government officials.
Authorities believe the two men reached an arrangement in 2010, five years after Hanning left the intelligence agency. Moreover, prosecutors said Manfred D. continued accessing confidential material while working for several successive BND chiefs until 2026.
Foreign Intelligence Service Remains Unidentified
Prosecutors suspect Hanning used some of the classified information to prepare an analysis for an officer working for a foreign intelligence service. They have not identified the foreign agency involved and said investigators have yet to establish whether the material reached its intended recipient.
Authorities also allege that Hanning maintained contact with another foreign intelligence representative and shared political information with that person. Meanwhile, investigators searched properties linked to both suspects as part of the ongoing probe.
The arrests followed evidence discovered during a separate investigation involving the alleged abduction of children belonging to a prominent German business family. Hanning has also faced allegations in that case, which he has denied.
Both suspects are expected to appear before judges as German authorities continue investigating the allegations. The case has raised fresh concerns about the handling of classified information by former intelligence officials.
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