Europeupdated 1h ago2 min read
German Prosecutors Arrest Ex-BND Chief August Hanning For Espionage And Treason
August Hanning, ex-head of Germany's BND, arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason. Prosecutors allege he passed state secrets to a foreign intelligence service.
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Hanning Arrested in Germany
German federal prosecutors arrested former BND chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage, treason, and obtaining classified information for a foreign power. Hanning headed the Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005 and has since been working as a private consultant, while prosecutors alleged he used classified intelligence to "draft an analysis" for one foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors alleged Hanning agreed with a former BND office manager to receive confidential intelligence information "in exchange for payment" five years after his tenure ended in 2005.
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office also arrested Hanning’s former aide, identified as Manfred D, and prosecutors charged him with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage. Hanning was arrested at his home in Nordwalde near Münster early on Tuesday, while Manfred D was arrested at the same time in Bavaria.
Documents, Contacts, Court
Prosecutors said Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many containing classified information intended for internal use within the Federal Intelligence Service for executive intelligence briefings. The current findings suggest that "over the years, Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents". The Reuters report said prosecutors did not identify the foreign intelligence service and that it was not immediately clear whether the analysis reached its intended recipient, while the prosecutor’s office said Hanning was "strongly suspected of treasonous espionage".
Investigators have not disclosed which foreign powers were involved, and police arrested Hanning at his home in Nordwalde near Münster while Manfred D was arrested in Bavaria. The Guardian said prosecutors believed Hanning intended to resell the documents as part of a paid consulting role he had built up after leaving the BND.
Broader Security Fallout
BND President Martin Jaeger told Reuters that the agency had launched extensive internal investigations as soon as suspicions emerged, adding that "there can be no compromises on internal security." Suspicion over Hanning’s activities emerged as a result of an investigation into the kidnappings of the children from a prominent Hamburg business family, which is the focus of a major trial in the north German port city. Local media said Hanning’s alleged possession of intelligence documents came to light during a separate case relating to German steakhouse heiress Christina Block, with Hamburg public prosecutor’s office accusing Block of orchestrating the kidnapping of her two youngest children in 2023 due to a custody dispute.
Hanning was due in court on Wednesday and Manfred D will appear on Tuesday, while prosecutors said premises linked to both men were being searched in several locations including the capital Berlin. Hanning is accused of using information to "draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service," and it was unclear if this information had reached its intended recipient.