NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A former spy chief for Germany’s foreign intelligence service was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason over allegations that he obtained classified documents and used classified information to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service, prosecutors said. August Hanning, 80, headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as BND, from 1998 to 2005. According to federal prosecutors, Hanning is “strongly suspected of treason espionage, espionage of state secrets, attempted treason and espionage.” A former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested in West Germany and is charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage in connection with the case. ESCAPE BRAZILIAN FORMER SPY CHIEF CONVICTED IN COUP HIT, HELD BY ICE IN FLORIDA TRAFFIC STOP August Hanning, former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, was arrested on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, federal prosecutors said. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) Prosecutors said Manfred D. worked as Hanning’s chief of staff before serving as chief of staff to several of Hanning’s successors in the BND between March 2012 and March 2026, giving him access to confidential information. Beginning in 2010, the men allegedly reached an agreement under which Manfred D. would routinely transmit intelligence to Hanning in exchange for payment. The agreement continued until June 2022, when Manfred D. allegedly provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information intended strictly for internal use, according to prosecutors. Hanning allegedly used the information in his private consulting work. Home of former chairman of the Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, August Hanning, 80, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage, in Nordwalde, Germany, Tuesday, October 6, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP) A spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office told German broadcaster RTL that investigators believe Hanning used classified information to prepare an analysis for an employee of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors also said Hanning passed information after extensive exchanges with an employee of another intelligence service. German authorities have not publicly identified the foreign intelligence services allegedly involved. The investigation arose from an apparently unrelated case involving the 2024 kidnapping of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block’s children during a custody dispute. Prosecutors said Hanning’s arrest was due to evidence gathered during that investigation. He headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, known as BND, from 1998 to 2005 before working as a private consultant. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) Hanning’s arrest marks the first detention of a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, according to Reuters. Hanning and Manfred D. were expected to appear before a judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice after their arrests. Fox News Digital reached out to GLOBSEC, where Hanning previously had an affiliation, for comment on his arrest and the allegations against him. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP The Associated Press contributed to this report.
