Former German Intelligence Chief Arrested on Espionage and Attempted Treason Charges

A former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, federal prosecutors announced.

August Hanning, 80, led the BND from 1998 to 2005. He is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage,” according to a statement from the federal prosecutor’s office.

A former aide, identified only as Manfred D., was also taken into custody in western Germany. He is accused of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage in connection with the case.

August Hanning, the former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, was arrested on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, federal prosecutors said. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Prosecutors said Manfred D. served as Hanning’s chief of staff before holding the same position under several of Hanning’s successors at the BND between March 2012 and March 2026, a role that granted him access to highly confidential information.

Beginning in 2010, the two men allegedly reached an arrangement under which Manfred D. would routinely transmit intelligence to Hanning in exchange for payment. The arrangement continued until June 2022, with Manfred D. allegedly providing Hanning with roughly 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified material intended strictly for internal use.

Hanning allegedly utilized the information in his private consulting work.

Police officers are standing in front of the home of former president of the Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, August Hanning, 80, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage, in Nordwalde, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

A spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office told German broadcaster RTL that investigators believe Hanning used classified information to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors also said Hanning passed along information following extensive exchanges with an employee of another intelligence service. German authorities have not publicly identified the foreign intelligence services allegedly involved.

The investigation originated from an apparently unrelated case involving the 2024 abduction of the children of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block during a custody dispute. Prosecutors said Hanning’s arrest stemmed from evidence gathered during that investigation.

August Hanning led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND, from 1998 to 2005 before later working as a private consultant. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Hanning’s arrest marks the first detention of a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, according to Reuters. Both Hanning and Manfred D. were expected to appear before a judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice following their arrests.

Fox News Digital has reached out to GLOBSEC, where Hanning previously held an affiliation, for comment on the arrest and the allegations.

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