Former intelligence chief arrested
August Hanning, who led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on October 6 on suspicion of espionage and treason-related offences. Hanning, 80, was taken into custody in southern Germany. A judge issued an arrest warrant the following day and ordered him held in pretrial detention.
Former aide also detained
Authorities also arrested a former senior aide, identified under German privacy rules as Manfred D. Prosecutors allege that he had access to confidential BND material and supplied documents to Hanning over a period of years. They suspect the information was used in work connected to a foreign intelligence service.
Foreign service not identified
Prosecutors have not publicly named the country or intelligence service that may have received information. The accusations remain allegations under investigation; no court has established the suspects’ guilt. The case reportedly emerged from evidence gathered during a separate investigation, and searches were carried out at premises linked to both men.
