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August Hanning, who ran Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency from 1998 to 2005, is accused of espionage, treason and working for foreign intelligence services.
Former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning was arrested on October 6, 2026 on suspicion of espionage.(IMAGE: AFP FILE)
German prosecutors this week arrested former spy chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage and treason, alleging that he obtained classified information for a foreign power.
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office alleged that Hanning used classified intelligence to “draft an analysis” for one foreign intelligence service and remained in contact with another foreign spying service. Prosecutors did not disclose the names of the foreign intelligence agencies involved.
August Hanning, who ran Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency from 1998 to 2005, is accused of espionage, treason and working for foreign intelligence services, federal prosecutors said.
Agence France-Presse reported that it understands the foreign power involved was not Russia.
Hanning’s former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested on suspicion of “aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage”.
Prosecutors said Manfred D. also served as the chief of staff for Hanning’s successors between 2012 and 2026 and used this role to gain access to confidential information, which he then passed on to Hanning “in exchange for remuneration”.
“The current findings suggest that, over the years, Manfred D. provided Hanning with approximately two thousand documents, many of which contained classified information to be used exclusively by the Federal Intelligence Service for internal purposes,” prosecutors said.
They allege that “on one occasion, Hanning used classified intelligence … to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service”, although it is not clear if “the material reached the intended recipient”.
Germany would “not tolerate the betrayal of secrets”, Marc Henrichmann, chairman of parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, said in a statement to AFP.
“Whoever allies themselves with the enemies of our liberal democracy will be found out,” he said, adding that Hanning’s alleged behaviour would represent “trampling his official duties underfoot”.
Treason can be punished with a maximum penalty of life in prison in Germany.
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Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
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