Former German Spy Chief Arrested for Treason and Espionage
Germany's former foreign spy chief, August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason, according to prosecutors. The 80-year-old is under investigation for attempted treason and for allegedly acting as an agent for a foreign intelligence service, as confirmed by the Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General on Tuesday.
Hanning, who served as president of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, was apprehended in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. Alongside him, his former chief of staff, identified partially as Manfred D, was arrested in Steinfurt in western Germany. Manfred D is suspected of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
Prosecutors revealed that Hanning utilized classified intelligence provided by Manfred D to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. Furthermore, Manfred D, who also served as chief of staff for Hanning's successors from 2012 to 2026, allegedly accessed confidential information that he then passed on to Hanning in exchange for remuneration. This information was reportedly used by Hanning in his private consulting work.
Details of Document Transfers Unveiled
The prosecutor's office stated that Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents over the years, many of which contained classified information intended solely for internal use by the federal intelligence service, particularly for executive intelligence briefings. However, the statement did not disclose the identity of the foreign intelligence service involved or the country for which the two men are suspected of spying. It remains uncertain whether the material reached its intended recipient.
Approved for Dissemination
German MP Marc Henrichmann expressed strong condemnation of the actions, stating that Germany will not tolerate the betrayal of secrets. Henrichmann, who chairs the German parliament's intelligence oversight committee, emphasized that anyone who aligns themselves with the enemies of liberal democracy will be exposed.
The premises of both Hanning and Manfred D are currently being searched in multiple locations, including the capital, Berlin.
