Former German Intelligence Chief August Hanning Arrested on Espionage Charges

August Hanning, the former head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason, and illegally obtaining classified information for a foreign power, according to an announcement from the German Federal Prosecutor's Office. Hanning, who led the foreign intelligence agency from 1998 to 2005 and later worked as a private consultant, was taken into custody at his residence in Nordwalde, near Münster.

Law enforcement officers also arrested a former BND employee identified as Manfred D in Bavaria. Prosecutors accuse Manfred D of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage by supplying Hanning with confidential materials in exchange for payment. Manfred D served as Hanning's bureau chief and later worked as chief of staff for subsequent BND directors between 2012 and 2026, remaining with the agency until this year.

Allegations of Document Leakage and Foreign Intelligence Links

Federal prosecutors allege that Manfred D utilized his position within the BND to access highly sensitive internal records, handing over approximately 2,000 documents to Hanning over several years. According to investigators, many of these materials were classified exclusively for the internal operational use of the German intelligence service.

Investigators state that Hanning utilized the classified intelligence to prepare an analytical report for an officer belonging to a foreign intelligence service, though authorities have not confirmed whether the draft reached its intended recipient. Additionally, Hanning is accused of maintaining multi-year contact with a representative of a second foreign espionage agency, allegedly sharing political insights partially derived from the materials supplied by Manfred D. The specific foreign powers involved have not been publicly named by prosecutors.

Discovery of Classified Materials and Legal Proceedings

German media reported that Hanning's possession of the restricted files emerged during an unrelated investigation involving steakhouse heiress Christina Block. Hamburg prosecutors had charged Block with arranging the 2023 kidnapping of her two youngest children amid a custody battle. While investigating allegations that Hanning participated in an earlier failed abduction attempt—a claim Hanning denies—state criminal police discovered a digital storage device containing sensitive files, including recent BND documents.

Following their arrests, Manfred D was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, with Hanning slated for a court appearance on Wednesday. The case represents another significant security breach for the BND, following the 2023 treason charges against high-ranking officer Carsten L, who stands accused of passing Ukraine war intelligence to Russia for approximately €400,000.