Former German Spy Chief Arrested on Espionage, Treason Charges

Tue Oct 06 2026 13:07:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former BND chief August Hanning detained over spying for foreign powers and passing documents. Investigation shows a leak ring involving senior ex‑intelligence officials.

Former chief of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, has been arrested on accusations of espionage, treason, and passing classified information to foreign intelligence agencies. Prosecutors say that Hanning supplied around 2,000 state‑secret documents, some of which were allegedly drafted into reports for foreign operatives. A former BND staffer, Manfred D, was also detained for facilitating the transfer of these documents for money. The case follows a broader trend of German intelligence leaks, including a 2023 treason charge against another BND officer for sharing Ukraine war intel with Russia.

Former German spy chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office says.

Hanning headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005 and has since worked as a private consultant.

Prosecutors allege that he used classified intelligence to “draft an analysis” for a foreign intelligence service and maintained contact with another spying service. The investigators have not yet revealed which countries were involved.

Police also arrested former BND employee Manfred D, accusing him of passing roughly 2,000 classified documents to Hanning for money. D, who had served as Hanning’s bureau chief and remained in the BND until this year, is charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.

Local media reported Hanning was arrested at his home in Nordwalde near Münster on Tuesday, while Manfred D was detained in Bavaria. Hanning is due to appear in court on Wednesday and Manfred D on Tuesday.

The prosecutors said Manfred D used his role as chief of staff for Hanning’s successors from 2012 to 2026 to gain access to highly confidential information, which he then passed to Hanning “in exchange for remuneration.” The statement added that over the years, Manfred D provided Hanning with about 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information meant for the BND’s internal use.

“On one occasion, Hanning used classified intelligence … to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service,” prosecutors said, noting that it was not clear if “the material reached the intended recipient.”

Hanning is also accused of maintaining close contact with a representative of another foreign intelligence service, to whom he passed on political information, partially based on material provided by Manfred D, for several years.

Local media say Hanning’s alleged possession of intelligence documents surfaced during a separate case involving German steakhouse heiress Christina Block. Hamburg public prosecutors accused Block of orchestrating the kidnapping of her two youngest children in 2023 over a custody dispute, and investigators alleged Hanning was involved in an earlier attempted kidnapping of the children, which he denies. State police officers reportedly discovered an electronic data storage device containing sensitive information, including recent BND documents.

This is not the first time the BND has faced similar controversy. In 2023, a high‑ranking German intelligence officer was charged with treason for allegedly passing state secrets to Russia. Prosecutors alleged that Carsten L shared Ukraine war and Wagner mercenary group intel, receiving roughly €400,000 (about $450,000). His trial is still ongoing.