Former BND Chief Arrested in State Secrets Case

Former German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning and his former chief of staff, identified only as Manfred D, have been arrested in Germany as part of an investigation into suspected treason and espionage. The Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General said Hanning, 80, is suspected of attempted treason and acting as an agent for a foreign intelligence service. He was arrested in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen, in southern Germany; Manfred D was arrested in Steinfurt, in western Germany, on suspicion of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage. Prosecutors allege that Manfred D used his position to access confidential information while serving as chief of staff to Hanning’s successors from 2012 to 2026. They say he passed information to Hanning in exchange for payment. Hanning allegedly used some of the material in private consulting work and, on one occasion, used classified intelligence supplied by Manfred D to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Investigators believe Manfred D provided Hanning with about 2,000 documents over the years, many classified for internal use by the federal intelligence service, including executive intelligence briefings. Authorities have not identified the suspected foreign intelligence service, the country involved, or whether the material reached its intended recipient. German parliament intelligence oversight committee chair Marc Henrichmann said Germany would not tolerate the betrayal of secrets and warned that those who aligned themselves with enemies of liberal democracy would be found out. Investigators were searching premises connected to both men at several locations, including Berlin. The allegations remain under investigation.

Former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power, according to the Federal Prosecutor's Office. Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005 and later worked as a private consultant. Prosecutors allege that he used classified intelligence to prepare an analysis for a foreign intelligence officer and maintained contact with another foreign intelligence service, but they have not identified the countries involved. They also say it is unclear whether the analysis reached its intended recipient. Authorities arrested former BND employee Manfred D, who is accused of supplying Hanning with about 2,000 classified documents in exchange for money. Prosecutors say Manfred D used his position to access confidential material, including documents intended for internal BND use. He is charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage. Hanning and Manfred D were arrested in different parts of Germany and are scheduled to appear in court on separate days. The investigation reportedly surfaced during a separate case involving Christina Block, a steakhouse heiress accused by Hamburg prosecutors of orchestrating the 2023 kidnapping of her two youngest children amid a custody dispute. Hanning is alleged to have been involved in an earlier attempted kidnapping, which he denies. Investigators reportedly found a data-storage device containing sensitive information, including recent BND documents. The case follows another major German intelligence scandal: a high-ranking officer, identified as Carsten L, was charged with treason in 2023 over alleged disclosures to Russia concerning the war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group. Prosecutors said he received about €400,000; his trial is ongoing.

Former German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of treasonous espionage and other offences involving state secrets, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said. Hanning, 80, led the BND from 1998 to 2005. His former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested and accused of aiding and abetting treasonous espionage and attempted treason. Authorities have not disclosed which foreign intelligence services the men allegedly assisted. Prosecutors say Hanning and Manfred D. agreed in 2010 that Manfred D. would regularly pass valuable BND information to Hanning in exchange for payment. Over several years, Manfred D. allegedly provided about 2,000 documents, many classified and intended only for internal BND use. Hanning allegedly used some of the information in private consulting work, including to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors say he also passed political information, some based on the documents, to a representative of another foreign service. It remains unclear whether some material reached its intended recipient. The arrests followed evidence uncovered during a separate investigation concerning the alleged abduction of the children of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block from her former husband. Hanning and a retired Hamburg police official had previously been suspected of accepting a contract from Block in 2022 to abduct the children while working as security-firm executives. That investigation led to a search of Hanning’s home and, prosecutors say, evidence relevant to the espionage case. German Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz, who serves on the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence services, called the allegations deeply troubling and urged a swift, thorough investigation. The BND did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

German police arrested former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage and related offenses, the federal prosecutor’s office announced. The 80-year-old led the foreign intelligence agency from December 1998 to November 2005 and later served as a state secretary in the Federal Interior Ministry until 2009. The prosecutor’s office said Hanning faces allegations including espionage, disclosure of state secrets, attempted treason, and acting as a secret service agent, but did not identify the foreign intelligence service involved. Authorities also arrested a former senior BND employee, identified under German privacy rules as Manfred D. Prosecutors allege that he supplied Hanning with classified documents for payment after Hanning left the agency. Manfred D. had served as Hanning’s chief of staff and later worked under him at the Interior Ministry. He is accused of aiding and abetting attempted treason and espionage. Police arrested Hanning at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster, and took Manfred D. into custody in Bavaria. Searches were carried out at both men’s properties and in Berlin. According to prosecutors, the arrangement may have begun in 2010. From 2012 until March 2026, Manfred D. worked as chief of staff to Hanning’s successors at the BND and allegedly provided him with about 2,000 documents, many classified and intended for internal agency use. Prosecutors say information was supplied until at least mid-2022 and used in Hanning’s private consulting work. In one alleged instance, Hanning used classified material to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service. He is also accused of passing political information, partly based on the documents, to a representative of another foreign intelligence service. German lawmakers called the allegations deeply troubling and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. The report says the investigation reportedly began in connection with a high-profile trial involving businesswoman Christine Block. Hanning and Manfred D. were expected to appear before an investigating judge on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning was arrested in southern Germany on suspicion of treasonous espionage and other offenses involving state secrets, the federal prosecutor’s office said. Hanning, 80, led the BND from 1998 to 2005. His former aide, identified under German privacy rules as Manfred D., was also arrested and accused of aiding and abetting treasonous espionage and attempted treason. Authorities did not identify the foreign intelligence services allegedly involved or say whether classified material reached its intended recipient. Prosecutors allege that the men agreed in 2010 that Manfred D. would provide Hanning with valuable BND intelligence in exchange for payment. Over the years, he allegedly supplied about 2,000 documents, many classified and intended for internal use, including executive intelligence briefings. Hanning allegedly used the material in private consulting and once drew on classified information to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors also say Hanning had close contact with a representative of another foreign intelligence service and passed along political information, some based on Manfred D.’s material. Searches were conducted at both men’s premises. The investigation arose from evidence found while authorities searched Hanning’s residence in connection with a separate, high-profile child-abduction case. Hanning and a retired Hamburg police official have been suspected of accepting a contract from businesswoman Christina Block in 2022 to abduct her children amid a custody dispute. The children were taken from their father in Denmark in January 2024. The case involving the prominent Block family has attracted extensive media attention. Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz, who serves on the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence services, called the allegations deeply troubling and urged a swift, thorough investigation. He also renewed criticism of former senior officials’ lobbying and consulting work, calling for restrictions on private consulting by former officials with security clearances.

Former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning, 80, was arrested in southern Germany on suspicion of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and espionage, the federal prosecutor’s office said. A former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting treasonous espionage and attempted treason. Authorities have not disclosed which foreign intelligence services the men allegedly worked with. Prosecutors suspect that Hanning and Manfred D. agreed in 2010 that the aide would provide Hanning with valuable BND intelligence in return for payment. Manfred D. had worked as Hanning’s chief of staff and later held the same role for several other BND presidents. Investigators believe he supplied about 2,000 documents over the years, many classified and intended for internal use, including executive intelligence briefings. Hanning allegedly used the information for private consulting and once drew on classified material to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors said it remains unclear whether that material reached its intended recipient. They also allege Hanning passed political information, partly based on the documents, to a representative of another foreign intelligence service over several years. Both men’s premises were searched. The investigation began with evidence found during a search related to a separate case involving the abduction of Christina Block’s children from her former husband. Hanning and a retired Hamburg state police official are suspected of accepting a 2022 contract from Block to abduct the children while serving as executives of a security firm. Block’s family owns the Block House steakhouse chain, and the custody case has attracted substantial attention in Germany. The BND had not immediately responded to a request for comment.