German authorities have arrested August Hanning, the former head of the country’s foreign intelligence service, on suspicion of passing classified state secrets to foreign intelligence operatives. Hanning, 80, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was taken into custody in southern Germany alongside a former aide accused of orchestrating a multi-year document leak.
Federal prosecutors allege that Hanning collaborated with Manfred D., his former chief of staff who continued serving subsequent BND leadership until 2026. Beginning in 2010, Manfred D. allegedly transmitted roughly 2,000 confidential internal documents to Hanning in exchange for monetary payment. Investigators state that Hanning utilized these classified briefing materials for private consulting work and shared sensitive intelligence with representatives of unnamed foreign intelligence services until at least June 2022.
The espionage investigation emerged from a separate criminal inquiry into a high-profile custody dispute involving the abduction of a prominent German businesswoman's children in early 2024. A search of Hanning’s residence during that probe uncovered evidence pointing to the illicit intelligence-sharing scheme.
The arrests have triggered widespread concern within German political circles. Opposition lawmaker Konstantin von Notz, a member of the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence operations, called the allegations deeply troubling and urged a swift investigation. He also renewed calls to impose strict bans on former high-ranking security officials engaging in private consulting work after leaving office.