German authorities have arrested former intelligence chief August Hanning over allegations that he passed sensitive state information to foreign intelligence services.
Hanning, who headed Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), from 1998 to 2005, is being investigated on suspicion of espionage, treason and working for foreign intelligence services, federal prosecutors said.
His former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested on suspicion of aiding treason.
Prosecutors allege that Manfred D., who continued working under some of Hanning’s successors, obtained classified documents and passed them to his former boss, who allegedly used the information in his private consulting activities.
According to investigators, Manfred D. supplied Hanning with about 2,000 documents over several years, many containing classified information. Hanning allegedly used some of the material to prepare an analysis for a foreign intelligence officer and passed political information to another foreign intelligence representative.
Authorities have not identified the foreign powers allegedly involved. AFP reported that Russia was not among them.
German parliamentary intelligence oversight committee chairman Marc Henrichmann said the country would not tolerate the betrayal of state secrets.
“Whoever allies themselves with the enemies of our liberal democracy will be found out,” he said.
The case comes at a sensitive time for Germany, which is seeking to strengthen its intelligence services amid growing security concerns, particularly over Russia.
The government recently approved a major overhaul of the country’s intelligence agencies, including broader powers for covert operations. The proposed reforms are expected to be considered by parliament early next year.
Current BND chief Martin Jaeger said the agency had conducted extensive internal investigations before federal prosecutors took over the case.
The allegations against Hanning reportedly emerged from a separate investigation involving Christina Block, an heiress to a German steakhouse chain who is on trial over the alleged kidnapping of her two children.
Hanning and a retired police officer were previously accused in that case of accepting more than €100,000 from Block in connection with efforts to return the children from Denmark, where they were living with their father.
Hanning’s property was searched in September 2025 as part of that investigation, which subsequently led to the current probe.
Treason in Germany carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
