Federal prosecutors said August Hanning, who led the BND from 1998 to 2005, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of passing state secrets. A former aide was also arrested.
Germany's federal prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that August Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, had been arrested on suspicion of treasonous espionage, obtaining state secrets, attempted treason and espionage. AP reported that prosecutors said he was strongly suspected of passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence service.
Hanning is 80. AP said he was arrested in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. BBC, citing local media, reported an arrest at a home in Nordwalde near Munster. The two accounts do not agree on the place. A former aide identified as Manfred D. was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
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. BBC said Manfred D., Hanning's former bureau chief, is accused of passing him about 2,000 classified documents for money and remained in the BND until this year.
Hanning has worked as a private consultant since leaving the service, BBC reported. The case is at the suspicion and charge stage. Neither outlet published a plea or a court finding.
BBC said Hanning was due in court on Wednesday. No trial date or named foreign service was included in the prosecutor statements carried on Tuesday.
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- The federal prosecutor's office said Hanning was strongly suspected of treasonous espionage and attempted treason.