German authorities have arrested former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning over allegations of espionage, treason and obtaining state secrets for foreign intelligence services.

Hanning, 80, who headed the BND, Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, from 1998 to 2005, was arrested alongside a former BND official identified as Manfred D.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said Hanning was strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and acting as an intelligence agent.

Prosecutors alleged that Hanning and Manfred D. agreed in 2010 that the latter would provide confidential BND information to Hanning in exchange for payment.

Manfred D. subsequently served as chief of staff to several BND presidents between 2012 and March 2026, giving him access to classified intelligence.

Investigators believe he supplied Hanning with about 2,000 documents over several years, including classified material intended exclusively for internal BND use and intelligence briefings prepared for senior officials at the German Chancellery.

According to prosecutors, Hanning used some of the information in his private consulting activities. On one occasion, he allegedly used classified intelligence to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service.

Authorities have not identified the foreign intelligence service involved and said it had not yet been established whether the analysis reached its intended recipient. German media reports cited by international agencies said Russia was not involved in the case.

Manfred D. faces allegations of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.

The arrests followed investigations arising from evidence discovered during a separate case involving Hanning. German authorities also searched properties linked to the two suspects in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin.

The BND said it launched internal investigations as soon as suspicions emerged. Its president, Martin Jaeger, stressed that there could be no compromise on internal security.

The suspects are expected to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice as investigations continue.

The case has raised fresh concerns about the handling of classified information by former intelligence officials and the potential risks associated with their activities after leaving government service.