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A former spy chief for Germany’s foreign intelligence service was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason over allegations that he obtained classified documents and used secret information to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service, prosecutors said.
August Hanning, 80, led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND, from 1998 to 2005.
According to federal prosecutors, Hanning is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage.”
A former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested in western Germany and is accused of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage in connection with the case.
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August Hanning, the former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, was arrested on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, federal prosecutors said. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
Prosecutors said Manfred D. worked as Hanning’s chief of staff before going on to serve as chief of staff to several of Hanning’s successors at the BND between March 2012 and March 2026, giving him access to confidential information.
Beginning in 2010, the men allegedly reached an agreement under which Manfred D. would routinely transmit intelligence to Hanning in exchange for payment.
The arrangement continued until June 2022, with Manfred D. allegedly providing Hanning with roughly 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information intended strictly for internal use, according to prosecutors.
Hanning allegedly used the information in his private consulting work.
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Police officers are standing in front of the home of former president of the Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, August Hanning, 80, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage, in Nordwalde, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)
A spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office told German broadcaster RTL that investigators believe Hanning used classified information to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service.
Prosecutors also said Hanning passed along information following extensive exchanges with an employee of another intelligence service.
German authorities have not publicly identified the foreign intelligence services allegedly involved.
The investigation grew out of an apparently unrelated case involving the 2024 abduction of the children of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block during a custody dispute.
Prosecutors said Hanning’s arrest stemmed from evidence gathered during that investigation.
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August Hanning led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND, from 1998 to 2005 before later working as a private consultant. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
Hanning’s arrest marks the first detention of a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, according to Reuters.
Hanning and Manfred D. were expected to appear before a judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice following their arrests.
Digital has reached out to GLOBSEC, where Hanning previously held an affiliation, for comment on his arrest and the allegations against him.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
