German prosecutors have arrested August Hanning, the former president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), on suspicion of attempted treason and acting as an agent for a foreign intelligence service. The Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, marking a significant development in a case that has shaken confidence in the country’s intelligence apparatus.
Arrests in Southern and Western Germany
Hanning, 80, was taken into custody in the Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen district in southern Germany. Authorities simultaneously arrested his former chief of staff, identified in court documents only as Manfred D, in Steinfurt in western Germany. Manfred D faces charges of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
The two men are accused of a long-running arrangement involving the exchange of classified information for money. According to prosecutors, Manfred D served as chief of staff for Hanning’s successors between 2012 and 2026. He used this position to access confidential data, which he then passed to Hanning in exchange for remuneration.
The prosecutor’s office stated that Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents over the years. Many of these files contained classified information intended exclusively for internal use by the federal intelligence service, particularly for executive intelligence briefings. Hanning allegedly used this material in his private consulting work after leaving his official post.
Specific Allegations of Espionage
One specific incident cited by prosecutors involves Hanning using classified intelligence provided by Manfred D to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. The statement did not identify the foreign country or the specific agent involved. Prosecutors added that it has yet to be determined if the material actually reached the intended recipient.
Hanning served as the head of the BND from 1998 to 2005. His arrest has triggered immediate searches of premises in Berlin and other locations linked to both men. The scale of the alleged breach, involving thousands of documents, suggests a prolonged period of unauthorized information sharing.
Marc Henrichmann, a member of the German parliament and chair of the intelligence oversight committee, addressed the situation through the AFP news agency. He emphasized that Germany will not tolerate the betrayal of state secrets. Henrichmann stated that anyone who allies themselves with the enemies of liberal democracy will be found out.
The case highlights vulnerabilities in the handling of sensitive intelligence materials, even after officials have left their positions. The involvement of a former chief of staff who remained in a high-level role within the intelligence community for over a decade raises questions about internal security protocols and oversight mechanisms.
Legal proceedings are expected to follow the arrests. The prosecutor’s office has not released further details regarding the identity of the foreign intelligence service or the specific nature of the analysis drafted for the foreign officer. The investigation remains active as authorities assess the full extent of the information leak.
Source: Al Jazeera
