Germany: former head of the secret service arrested on charges of espionage and treason
At present, Russia does not appear to be involved in the investigation into the incident
The former head of the German intelligence service, August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of spying on state secrets, treason and spying on behalf of a foreign power. According to *Bild*, Hanning is alleged to have purchased confidential information in exchange for money from a former member of the BND’s senior management team. His aim, the tabloid reports, was to ‘resell it as part of his consultancy work’. He subsequently held senior positions within the German security apparatus, serving as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior until the end of 2009.
The federal prosecutor has launched an investigation into both suspects. According to *Bild*, investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) arrested Hanning in the early hours of the morning at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster. At the same time, in Bavaria, officers arrested another former high-ranking BND official, identified by his first name and the initial of his surname, Manfred D., who had previously served as Hanning’s head of office and who worked for the BND until the spring of 2026: he is accused of aiding and abetting attempted treason and subversive espionage.
Hanning is “strongly suspected” of subversive espionage, spying on state secrets and attempted treason, the German Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Tuesday. Hanning, aged 80, headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. After stepping down from the post, he founded a company called HanningConsult GmbH together with his wife. The charges relate to the period during which he worked as a private consultant.
In recent months, the German authorities have stepped up their efforts to combat espionage, and Hanning is one of the most prominent suspects to have emerged so far. Previous arrests had involved individuals attempting to steal military and corporate secrets in sectors such as the automotive industry.
According to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, Hanning and Manfred D. allegedly agreed in 2010 that the latter would regularly pass on confidential BND information to Hanning in exchange for money. Hanning is alleged to have used this information – comprising around 2,000 documents – in his consultancy work.
