Former German Spy Chief Arrested on Suspicion of Treason and Espionage

Germany on Tuesday arrested former intelligence chief August Hanning on suspicion of treason and espionage over allegations that he bought classified information from an insider and used it in work involving a foreign intelligence service.

Federal investigators detained the 80-year-old at his home in Nordwalde. His former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was arrested separately in Bad Tölz, Bavaria, on suspicion of helping obtain state secrets and facilitating attempted treason.

Hanning led the Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND, from December 1998 until November 2005. The allegations concern his activities after leaving the agency.

An Alleged Paid Supply of Secrets

Prosecutors say the two men reached an arrangement in spring 2010 under which Manfred D. would supply Hanning with intelligence in return for payment.

The former aide allegedly passed on about 2,000 documents, including material reserved for the agency’s internal use and briefings for its leadership.

Prosecutors allege Hanning drew on that information for his private consulting business.

According to reporting by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, the files included assessments of Iran’s nuclear program and Russia’s military, along with sensitive information from foreign partner agencies.

Manfred D. held chief-of-staff positions under several BND presidents between March 2012 and March 2026, giving the investigation implications beyond Hanning’s own tenure.

Foreign Recipient Remains Unidentified

The prosecution alleges that Hanning used information supplied by his former aide to prepare an assessment for a foreign intelligence officer.

“On one occasion, Hanning used classified intelligence provided by Manfred D to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service,” the prosecutor’s office said.

“It has yet to be determined if the material reached the intended recipient.”

Authorities have not named the foreign service. Officials cited by the Financial Times said Russia was not currently part of the investigation.

The distinction is central to the case: prosecutors have alleged attempted treason, while the delivery of that analysis remains unresolved.

Both suspects are presumed innocent.

Evidence Emerged from a Separate Inquiry

Investigators discovered the suspected intelligence scheme while examining an unrelated attempted child abduction.

Hamburg police searched Hanning’s property in September 2025 as part of an inquiry involving a security business linked to him and Christina Block, the daughter of the Block House restaurant chain’s founder.

Hanning denied involvement in the alleged abduction attempt.

During their examination of the seized evidence, investigators reportedly found an electronic storage device containing highly classified BND records.

The discovery prompted an assessment by the agency’s security staff and an internal investigation into how the documents had left its control.

Federal prosecutors took over the case in May 2026.

The arrests prompt the BND to face another investigation into how it handles its secrets as President Martin Jäger, who took office in September 2025, pursues changes to the agency.