Former German spy chief arrested for attempted treason, obtaining state secrets

Former German foreign intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on Tuesday, suspected of leaking sensitive information to foreign entities. Hanning, who led Germany's BND agency from 1998 to 2005, faces charges of espionage, treason, and espionage for foreign intelligence agencies. The specifics of the foreign nations involved remain undisclosed.

Hanning's former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was also apprehended on suspicion of aiding treason. This individual allegedly obtained classified data and sold it to former colleagues for personal consulting work, which included preparing a briefing for a foreign spy and sharing information with an agent of another foreign intelligence service.

Germany's parliament intelligence oversight committee chair, Marc Henrichmann, emphasized that the country would not accept the "betrayal of secrets." Treason in Germany can lead to life imprisonment. Authorities aim to enhance the BND and domestic spy service's powers to counter emerging threats, particularly from Russia. The BND and BfV have historically held more restricted mandates compared to their foreign counterparts, but reforms are anticipated to be enacted by parliament early next year.

Current BND leader Martin Jaeger affirmed that the agency conducted "swift and thorough internal investigations" prior to federal prosecutors assuming the case. "For the BND and for me, there are no concessions when it comes to internal security," Jaeger stated to the Rheinische Post newspaper, emphasizing that the incident did not undermine his goals or priorities.

According to prosecutors, Manfred D. provided Hanning with roughly two thousand documents over several years, many containing classified information. Hanning, who previously served as head of the interior ministry from 2005-2009, utilized classified intelligence to draft an analysis for a foreign intelligence officer. The extent to which this material reached its intended recipient remains unclear.

He is also accused of maintaining close contact with a representative of another foreign intelligence service over political information, partially based on data provided by Manfred D., for several years. The ARD broadcaster reported that Manfred D.'s disclosures encompassed details about Iran's nuclear program and Russia's military.

Security sources suggested that some of this information originated from partner intelligence agencies abroad. The charges against Hanning emerged from his involvement in the case of Christina Block, a wealthy heiress on trial for allegedly orchestrating the kidnapping of her two children for a commission exceeding 100,000 euros.

During this investigation, Hanning and a retired police officer were accused of accepting the payout in exchange for returning the children from Denmark, where they resided with Block's ex-husband. As part of that probe, Hanning's property was searched in September 2025, setting the stage for the ongoing investigation.