Former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and the disclosure of state secrets.
The 80-year-old was arrested on Tuesday in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district of Bavaria, on the orders of a federal court, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced.
His former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the alleged crimes. He was arrested in the Steinfurt district of North Rhine-Westphalia.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Hanning is suspected of espionage against Germany, disclosure of state secrets, attempted treason and acting as an agent for a foreign intelligence service. Manfred D. is suspected of aiding attempted treason and espionage.
Investigators suspect that Hanning and Manfred D. had an arrangement dating back to 2010. According to the allegations, his former associate regularly provided Hanning with valuable information from the BND in exchange for payments.
According to the investigation, Hanning obtained around 2,000 documents over the years, many of which contained classified information and were intended exclusively for internal use by the BND.
Authorities also suspect that, on at least one occasion, Hanning used classified information to prepare an analysis for a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors have not disclosed which country was involved or whether the information was ultimately passed on to the foreign party.
Hanning headed the BND from December 1998 until November 2005. He subsequently served as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior until 2009.
The investigation into Hanning began after information emerged during another investigative proceeding. In May 2026, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation in cooperation with the BND and the Federal Criminal Police Office.
Hanning and Manfred D. are expected to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice, who will inform them of the allegations and decide whether they will remain in pre-trial detention.
