Former Germany BND chief Hanning arrested on suspicion of espionage
Prosecutors say Hanning's former chief of staff gave him around 2,000 documents until at least mid 2022. Investigators are also examining whether classified information reached foreign powers
Police arrested August Hanning early on Tuesday at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster. He headed the BND foreign intelligence agency from December 1998 to November 2005. He then served as state secretary at the Federal Interior Ministry until November 2009.
He faces suspicion of espionage against the state, disclosure of state secrets, attempted treason, and working as a secret service agent. A former senior BND employee was also arrested. He is suspected of giving Hanning hundreds of classified documents for money over more than a decade. Searches were underway at both suspects' properties and in Berlin.
The second suspect is identified only as Manfred D. under German privacy laws. He was Hanning's chief of staff at the BND and later at the ministry until 2009. He faces a charge of "aiding and abetting attempted treason and espionage against the state." Prosecutors say the two men devised the arrangement in 2010.
D. then served as chief of staff to several BND heads from 2012 to March 2026. He allegedly gave Hanning around 2,000 documents until at least mid 2022.
Federal Criminal Police Office investigators made the arrests, with D. detained in Bavaria. Hanning allegedly bought the information to resell it "as part of his consultancy work."
D. is due before the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe. Hanning is due to appear on Wednesday.
Hanning, 80, is accused of using the material in his private consultancy work. The documents reportedly included intelligence reports meant for the Chancellery. The case reportedly emerged from proceedings linked to businesswoman Christina Block and alleged leaks of Chancellery documents.
Investigators are examining whether classified information was passed to foreign powers. The question of a direct handover to a foreign power remains under investigation. Hanning worked globally as a security and business consultant, with ties to Russia and China, including government bodies there.