Former German Spy Chief Arrested on Espionage and Treason Charges

Tue Oct 06 2026 12:20:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former head of Germany’s BND, August Hanning, faces charges of espionage and treason after allegedly passing classified information to foreign intelligence services.

August Hanning, who ran Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, has been taken into custody on accusations of spying and treason. Prosecutors say he supplied more than 2,000 classified documents to foreign agencies and maintained secret contacts with a second intelligence service. Two former BND aides—Mandred D and Manfred D—are also charged for facilitating the illicit trade of sensitive material. The arrests highlight a growing concern over insider threats within German security circles. The case adds to a string of high‑profile espionage scandals that have shaken confidence in the nation’s intelligence institutions.

August Hanning, who led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and the acquisition of classified information for a foreign power. The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office reports that Hanning used state secrets to draft an analysis for a foreign intelligence service and maintained contact with a second agency, though the identities of those foreign powers remain undisclosed.

Authorities also detained former BND employee Mandred D, who allegedly passed roughly 2,000 sensitive documents to Hanning in exchange for payment. Manfred D, a former bureau chief who stayed with the BND until this year, is charged with aiding and abetting treason and treasonous espionage for providing Hanning with classified material that was meant for internal use only.

Local media report that Hanning’s arrest took place at his home in Nordwalde near Münster, while Manfred D was detained in Bavaria. The two men are scheduled to appear before court next week, with Hanning expected to face his first hearing on Wednesday.

The investigation follows a separate case involving German steakhouse heiress Christina Block, who was accused in 2023 of arranging the kidnapping of her children. Officials say Hanning was linked to an earlier kidnapping attempt, a claim he denies. An electronic storage device was also found during the probe, containing sensitive data including recent BND documents.

This is not the first time the BND has faced accusations of leaking state secrets. A senior officer was charged with treason in 2023 for allegedly passing information about the war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group to Russian handlers. That trial is still ongoing, underscoring the persistent risk of insider threats within Germany’s intelligence community.