A former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service has been arrested on suspicion of espionage in a case described by German media as unprecedented in the history of the Federal Republic.
August Hanning, 80, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was detained early on Tuesday morning, according to Germany’s federal prosecutors.
Investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office are reported to have arrested Mr Hanning at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster in north-western Germany.
A former close associate of Mr Hanning was also detained as part of the same investigation.
The second suspect, identified by prosecutors as Manfred D., was arrested in Bavaria. He is understood to have been Mr Hanning’s former chief of staff and remained employed by the BND until earlier this year.
German media said the investigation centres on suspected espionage against the state, attempted treason and alleged work on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.
According to reports by regional broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, investigators believe Mr Hanning may have received highly classified information from his former associate in exchange for money.
The alleged transfer of sensitive material is said to have continued until at least 2022.
Prosecutors suspect that in at least one instance Mr Hanning used classified intelligence to prepare a security assessment for a foreign intelligence service.
German media reports said the country involved was not Russia.
Investigators are also examining claims that Mr Hanning used information taken from internal BND documents in communications with a foreign intelligence operative.
Mr D. is alleged to have supplied Mr Hanning with around 2,000 documents in total.
Many of them are believed to have included highly sensitive briefings prepared for weekly meetings at the Federal Chancellery, where Germany’s security and intelligence chiefs exchange information.
According to media reports, the documents covered subjects including Iran’s nuclear programme, the Russian military and information supplied by foreign partner intelligence agencies.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the most recent documents discovered dated from June 2022.
Mr Hanning reportedly came under closer scrutiny after police searched his home and offices in September last year.
During an examination of seized material, investigators from a state criminal police office are said to have discovered an electronic storage device containing particularly sensitive documents which he was not authorised to possess.
Federal prosecutors formally opened a covert investigation into Mr Hanning and his former associate in May.
The allegations are potentially among the most serious ever levelled against a former senior German security official.
German media noted that no previous suspected treason case in the Federal Republic had involved a former state official of such high rank.
Mr Hanning spent decades in senior positions within Germany’s security establishment.
Before taking charge of the BND, he served in roles including responsibility for classified information at West Germany’s permanent representation in East Germany and as an intelligence co-ordinator within the Federal Chancellery.
After leaving the BND in 2005, he went on to serve as a state secretary in the German Interior Ministry.
The case is likely to raise wider questions about the protection of classified material, the handling of intelligence after senior officials leave office and the security of information shared between Germany and its foreign partners.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against both men have yet to be tested in court.
Adam Domaniewski
Photo: X @InsiderGeo
