August Hanning, a former chief of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), was arrested on Tuesday under suspicion of espionage and attempted treason. Prosecutors allege that Hanning, aged 80, acquired classified documents and utilized secret information to create an analysis for a foreign intelligence service employee.
Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005. Federal prosecutors have accused him of several charges, including treasonous espionage, attempted treason, and spying out state secrets. Alongside Hanning, Manfred D., a former aide, was arrested in western Germany. Manfred D. is implicated in aiding and abetting attempted treason and espionage related to this case.
Prosecutors claim that Manfred D. served as Hanning’s chief of staff and later held the role for several of Hanning’s successors at the BND, from March 2012 to March 2026. This position provided him access to sensitive information. The duo allegedly made an agreement in 2010 under which Manfred D. supplied intelligence to Hanning for compensation. This exchange lasted until June 2022, during which Manfred D. reportedly passed approximately 2,000 documents, some containing internal-only classified information.
Police believe Hanning used these documents in his private consulting endeavors. An investigation revealed Hanning prepared an analysis for a foreign intelligence service employee using the classified information. Additionally, investigators discovered Hanning shared information following detailed interactions with another intelligence service employee.
Authorities have not named the foreign intelligence services involved. The case surfaced from an unrelated investigation regarding the 2024 abduction of a Hamburg businesswoman’s children during a custody conflict. Evidence from this case contributed to Hanning’s arrest.
This event marks the first time a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service has been detained. Hanning and Manfred D. were expected to face a judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice. Fox News Digital contacted GLOBSEC, where Hanning previously had ties, for comments on the allegations.
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