Germany arrests former spy chief August Hanning on treason charges

Germany’s former foreign intelligence chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, attempted treason and offences involving state secrets, in a case concerning the alleged transfer of classified intelligence to foreign actors.

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced Hanning’s arrest on Tuesday, October 6. Reuters reported that prosecutors allege the former intelligence chief obtained secret information from a former employee of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND.

Hanning, 80, headed the BND from 1998 until 2005 before later serving as a state secretary in Germany’s Interior Ministry. A former BND colleague and aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested.

According to German public broadcaster Tagesschau, investigators suspect Manfred D. supplied Hanning with about 2,000 classified documents, including highly sensitive intelligence reports and briefings prepared for meetings at the German Chancellery.

Prosecutors allege the arrangement began in 2010, several years after Hanning left the BND, and continued until at least 2022. Hanning allegedly paid for classified material and used information from it to prepare at least one security analysis for a foreign intelligence service.

Investigators also suspect he communicated political intelligence obtained from internal BND documents to another foreign intelligence agency over several years. Authorities have not publicly identified the foreign countries or intelligence services allegedly involved. German media reporting cited by Tagesschau indicates Russia was not the foreign power involved in the security analysis.

The documents allegedly included intelligence concerning sensitive international security matters, including Iran’s nuclear programme and the Russian military, as well as information originating from Germany’s foreign intelligence partners.

The investigation reportedly developed after material was discovered during an earlier search of Hanning’s property connected to a separate investigation. Germany’s Federal Prosecutor subsequently opened a covert investigation into Hanning and his alleged source in May 2026.

Hanning has not been convicted of the allegations, and the accusations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.