Prosecutors say a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service has been arrested on suspicion of treason and spying for an overseas intelligence agency. August Hanning, 80, led the federal intelligence service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. The BND operates outside Germany, gathering political, economic, and military intelligence. He was arrested early Tuesday at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster. His former chief of staff, identified only as Manfred D, was arrested at the same time in Bavaria on suspicion of “aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage,” according to a prosecutor’s statement. Media images showed Hanning, wearing an open-necked white shirt, being taken from his redbrick house to a bullet-proof vehicle by masked officers. Manfred D, who continued working for Hanning’s successors at the BND after Hanning left and still works there today, is accused of using his position to access classified information and passing it to Hanning “in exchange for payment,” the prosecutors’ statement said. “The current findings suggest that, over the years, Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information intended exclusively for the federal intelligence service’s internal use, particularly for executive intelligence briefings,” the statement said. Prosecutors believe Hanning intended to resell the documents as part of a paid consulting role he built after leaving the BND. How widely he shared them, and with whom, is still under investigation. He is accused of using the information to “draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service,” prosecutors said. It was unclear whether this information reached its intended recipient, they added. Over several years, Hanning is also believed to have passed potentially sensitive political information—partly based on information from Manfred D—to a close contact representing a separate foreign intelligence service. Several properties linked to both men were searched simultaneously on Tuesday, including in Berlin. Manfred D is due to appear before judges at the federal court of justice in Karlsruhe later on Tuesday, while Hanning is scheduled to appear on Wednesday. Suspicions about Hanning’s activities emerged from an investigation into the kidnappings of the children of a prominent Hamburg business family, which is the focus of a major trial in the northern German port city. Investigators were led to Hanning over allegations, which he denies, that he helped Christina Block, heiress to a steak restaurant dynasty, organize the violent cross-border seizure in Denmark of her children from her estranged husband, who has custody of two of them. Block denies the charges. After leaving the BND, Hanning worked as a global consultant in security and business, drawing on his credentials as a former intelligence chief. He is considered to have been well connected in government and business circles in Russia and China, and also had contacts with top-ranking intelligence authorities in Israel. Hanning was an officer stationed at the embassy-equivalent organization for West Germany in communist East Berlin. After his term as BND president ended in 2005, he became the highest-ranking official in Germany’s security sector, overseeing all security agencies under federal interior minister Wolfgang Schäuble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the arrest of Germanys former intelligence chief on suspicion of spying
Beginner Questions
Who was arrested in Germany
A former head of Germanys intelligence agency known as the BND
What is he accused of
He is suspected of spying for a foreign country likely Russia
When did this happen
The arrest happened recently in October 2025
What is the BND
It is Germanys main foreign intelligence service similar to the CIA in the United States
Is he still in jail
Yes he is currently in custody while the investigation continues
Advanced Questions
What exactly is the charge
The charge is treason Prosecutors believe he passed secret information to a foreign intelligence service
Which country was he spying for
Reports strongly suggest Russia but German officials have not officially confirmed the countrys name
Why is this such a big deal
He was the top spy If the boss of an intelligence agency is a spy it means the countrys secrets were at huge risk
How did they catch him
German authorities were tipped off by a foreign partner agency They then monitored him and arrested him
What happens next
He will face a trial in a German court If found guilty of treason he could face a long prison sentence
Practical Questions
Was he the current chief or a former one
He is a former chief He was fired in 2018 but remained a highranking official
Has Germany had spy problems before
Yes In 2014 a BND employee was caught spying for the CIA This new case is much more serious because of the suspects rank
What does this mean for Germanys security
It is a major embarrassment Germany will likely review its security checks and trust in its own intelligence service
Could this affect Germanys relationship with Russia
Yes It will make already tense relations between Germany and Russia even worse
What should I do if I hear more news about this
Follow reports from major news sources like the BBC Reuters or Deutsche Welle Be careful of rumors on social media
