Former German Spy Chief August Hanning Arrested Over Espionage and Treason Allegations

BERLIN, Germany — Former head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason-related offences and obtaining classified information for a foreign power, according to Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office.

The 80-year-old Hanning, who led the BND from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on Tuesday alongside former BND official Manfred D., who is accused of supplying him with confidential intelligence in exchange for payment.

Both men were due to appear before an investigating judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice, which will determine whether they remain in pre-trial detention.

Prosecutors Allege Transfer of Classified Documents

German prosecutors allege that Hanning and Manfred D. established an arrangement in 2010 under which Manfred D. provided Hanning with confidential information from the BND in exchange for remuneration.

Investigators say Manfred D. supplied approximately 2,000 documents over several years, many of which contained classified information intended exclusively for internal BND use.

The material reportedly included senior-level intelligence briefings prepared for government officials.

Prosecutors allege that Hanning used some of the information in his private consulting activities after leaving government service.

In one case, investigators say he used classified intelligence to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Authorities have not established publicly whether the analysis actually reached its intended recipient.

Foreign Intelligence Services Not Identified

German authorities have not disclosed which foreign intelligence services Hanning allegedly dealt with.

Prosecutors say he also maintained contact for several years with a representative of another foreign intelligence service and passed political information to that person, some of which was allegedly based on material supplied by Manfred D.

Reuters reported that German media had indicated the case does not involve Russia, although authorities have not publicly identified the foreign powers allegedly involved.

Hanning has not publicly responded to the allegations, according to Reuters.

Manfred D. Held Sensitive BND Positions

Manfred D. allegedly had extensive access to confidential information through his long career at the BND.

Prosecutors say he served as Hanning's chief of staff and later worked as chief of staff for several subsequent BND presidents between 2012 and March 2026.

That position allegedly gave him access to highly sensitive intelligence and internal briefings.

He faces allegations of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.

The BND's current president, Martin Jaeger, said the agency launched an internal investigation once suspicions emerged and stressed that there could be no compromise on internal security.

Investigation Emerged From Separate Case

The investigation into Hanning reportedly emerged from a separate criminal investigation in Hamburg involving Christina Block, an heiress involved in a long-running custody dispute over her children.

German authorities searched premises connected to that investigation in 2025 and reportedly discovered an electronic storage device containing sensitive intelligence material, including recent BND documents.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation in May 2026 and has worked with the BND and Federal Criminal Police Office.

Hanning has previously denied allegations relating to the separate case.

A Major Intelligence Scandal

The arrest represents a significant development for Germany's intelligence community because Hanning previously occupied one of the country's most senior security positions.

Germany has experienced several major espionage cases involving intelligence personnel in recent decades. In 2023, a senior BND officer was charged with treason after prosecutors accused him of passing classified information to Russia.

The latest case is likely to face close scrutiny because of the alleged scale of the information transferred and Hanning's former position as head of Germany's foreign intelligence service.

Court Proceedings to Determine Next Steps

The allegations against both men remain subject to judicial proceedings, and an arrest or detention does not establish guilt.

The investigating judge will consider the evidence presented by prosecutors and determine whether the legal requirements for pre-trial detention have been met.

The investigation is continuing as German authorities seek to determine what classified information was accessed, how it was used and whether any intelligence was ultimately transferred to foreign intelligence services.