Federal prosecutors detained former BND president August Hanning on Tuesday over suspected treason and said a former office manager supplied about 2,000 classified documents.
German federal prosecutors said former foreign-intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of treasonous espionage, obtaining state secrets, attempted treason and espionage.
Hanning led the Federal Intelligence Service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005 and later worked as a private consultant. The BBC reported he was arrested at his home in Nordwalde, near Muenster. Prosecutors also arrested a former BND office manager identified as Manfred D., accusing him of passing Hanning about 2,000 classified documents for money.
Reuters said the suspected material included BND documents and chancellery intelligence briefings. The BBC said prosecutors allege Hanning used classified intelligence to draft an analysis for one foreign service and kept contact with another. Investigators have not named the foreign powers. Manfred D. was office manager to successive BND presidents until March 2026, Reuters reported.
The arrest of a former BND chief is unprecedented in recent German practice and could strain intelligence ties with allies, a senior security lawmaker told Reuters. BND chief Martin Jaeger said the service had opened internal investigations after the suspicions emerged.
The BBC said Hanning was due in court on Wednesday and Manfred D. was due to appear on Tuesday. No public charging document beyond the prosecutor's statement had been released by Tuesday evening.
People Sentiments Negative
- Prosecutors said Hanning is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage and obtaining state secrets.
- The BND said it had launched internal investigations after the suspicions emerged.