Former German Intelligence Chief August Hanning arrested on alleged treason and espionage charges
Former BND President August Hanning and his former chief of staff have been arrested on charges of espionage and leaking state secrets.
In a massive blow to Germany's national security apparatus, the former President of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, has been arrested on severe charges including treason and espionage.
The Federal Criminal Police Office executed the arrests on Tuesday, taking Hanning and his former chief of staff, Manfred D, into custody. The high-profile operation unfolded across multiple locations, including Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen County in Bavaria, Steinfurt County in North Rhine-Westphalia, and properties in Berlin.
A Decades-Long Betrayal
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation has uncovered a sophisticated scheme of betrayal dating back over a decade. Prosecutors allege that in the spring of 2010, Hanning and Manfred D entered into a criminal agreement where Manfred D would systematically leak confidential intelligence files to Hanning in exchange for financial compensation.
The scale of the alleged leak is staggering. It is estimated that Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents. These files were not mere administrative papers; many contained restricted intelligence intended strictly for internal agency use and high-level executive briefings involving senior officials from the Federal Chancellery and various German security agencies.
The Motive: Private Gain and Foreign Influence
Investigators believe Hanning did not just hoard these secrets but actively used them to fuel his private business interests. The prosecution states that Hanning utilized the classified material to enhance his private consultancy services.
The allegations go even deeper into the realm of international espionage:
- Foreign Intelligence Ties: Hanning is suspected of being in close contact with a representative of a foreign intelligence service for several years, passing on political information derived from the leaked documents.
- Drafting Secret Analyses: On at least one occasion, Hanning allegedly used the stolen intelligence to draft an analysis specifically for an officer of a foreign intelligence service, though authorities are still investigating if this report was successfully delivered.
The Fall of a High-Ranking Official
August Hanning was once a pillar of the German security establishment. He served as the President of the BND from December 1998 to November 2005 and subsequently held the position of State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior until November 2009.
His accomplice, Manfred D, held significant influence within the intelligence community. Having served as Hanning's chief of staff at the BND and as a parliamentary assistant at the Interior Ministry, Manfred D continued to serve as chief of staff for several subsequent BND presidents from 2012 until March 2026.
How the Probe Unfolded
The investigation into Hanning was not an isolated event but emerged from a wider crackdown on leaks. The probe gained momentum following a search of Hanning's property by Hamburg prosecutors in September 2025, which was part of an investigation into businesswoman Christina Block and alleged leaks from the Chancellery.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office officially took command of the case in early May 2026, working in tandem with the BND and the Federal Criminal Police Office. Both men have since been brought before an Investigating Judge at the Federal Court of Justice to address the charges and determine the terms of their pre-trial detention.