Former German domestic intelligence chief arrested on espionage charges

Germany's federal prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday the arrest of August Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) as its president between December 1998 and November 2005. Prosecutors say he is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, and attempted treason and espionage.

Hanning was detained in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. On the same day, a former aide identified only as Manfred D was arrested in Steinfurt in western Germany, facing charges of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.

Prosecutors have not disclosed who the two men are suspected of passing information to. Manfred D had served as Hanning's chief of staff during his BND tenure, and later held the same position for several subsequent BND presidents from March 2012 until March 2026, a role that gave him access to confidential material.

An arrangement dating to 2010

According to investigators, the two men agreed in spring 2010 that Manfred D would continuously pass valuable BND intelligence to Hanning in exchange for payment. Current findings indicate that over the following years, Manfred D supplied Hanning with roughly 2,000 documents, many containing classified information meant solely for the intelligence service's internal use, including briefings prepared for senior officials.

Prosecutors allege Hanning used this material in his private consulting work. In one instance, he reportedly drew on classified intelligence from Manfred D to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Authorities did not identify which country the officer represented, and said it remains unclear whether the material ultimately reached its intended recipient.

The homes and offices of both suspects were searched on Tuesday.