Former German intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on October 6, 2026, on suspicion of espionage, attempted treason, treasonous espionage and spying out state secrets, Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Hanning, 80, served as president of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the country’s foreign intelligence agency, from December 1998 to November 2005. He later held senior positions in the German government and worked as a private consultant.
According to federal prosecutors, Hanning is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and espionage. The allegations centre on claims that he obtained confidential BND information after leaving the agency and used some of it in his private consulting activities.
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The investigation focuses on allegations that Hanning continued to receive sensitive BND intelligence years after his tenure as the agency’s president ended. Prosecutors allege that Hanning and his former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., reached an agreement in 2010 under which Manfred D. would continuously provide valuable BND intelligence to Hanning in exchange for payment.
Manfred D. later served as chief of staff to several BND presidents between March 2012 and March 2026. According to prosecutors, this position gave him access to confidential information.
Investigators believe Manfred D. supplied Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents over several years. Many allegedly contained classified information intended exclusively for internal BND use, particularly intelligence briefings prepared for senior officials. Prosecutors also allege that Hanning used some of the information in his private consulting work.
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