Former German spy chief arrested for espionage and treason

Germany’s former foreign intelligence chief has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason.

August Hanning, 80, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was detained on Tuesday in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany.

The Federal Prosecutor General said Hanning is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and acting as an agent for a foreign intelligence service.

A second man, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested in Steinfurt in western Germany. He was Hanning’s former chief of staff and later served as chief of staff to several BND presidents from 2012 to March 2026.

Prosecutors allege the two men agreed in spring 2010 that Manfred D. would supply Hanning with BND internal documents in exchange for payment. Over the years he allegedly handed over around 2,000 documents, many classified and intended only for internal executive briefings.

The office said Hanning used the material in his private consulting work and on at least one occasion drafted an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. It has not been confirmed if the material reached its intended recipient or which country was involved. German media reported it was not Russia.

Both premises were searched on Tuesday. Manfred D. appeared before the Federal Court of Justice on Tuesday and was ordered into pre-trial detention. Hanning is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.