A former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service was apprehended on Tuesday on suspicion of divulging classified information to a foreign intelligence agency, as stated by the federal prosecutor’s office. August Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, is facing charges of treasonous espionage and spying, among other offenses. Hanning, aged 80, was arrested in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany, while a former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also detained in Steinfurt, western Germany, accused of aiding and abetting in treasonous espionage.
According to Ines Peterson, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, Mr. Hanning allegedly utilized classified information to create an analysis for a foreign intelligence service employee. Moreover, he is suspected of sharing information after extended interactions with another intelligence service’s staff member. The identities of the foreign agencies involved or the intended recipients were not disclosed by the officials.
Both men’s premises were searched, and it was revealed that Manfred D. had been continuously providing valuable intelligence from BND to Hanning since 2010 in exchange for payment. The prosecutor’s office highlighted that over the years, approximately 2,000 documents, many containing classified data intended for internal BND use, were passed from Manfred D. to Hanning.
Hanning allegedly used the confidential information for private consulting work and even drafted an analysis for a foreign intelligence officer using classified intelligence provided by Manfred D. The specifics of the foreign agent’s nationality were not disclosed, and it remains uncertain if the information reached its intended recipient.
The investigation into the abduction of Christina Block’s children led to the arrests of Hanning and Manfred D., stemming from evidence obtained during a search of Hanning’s residence. The public prosecutor’s office revealed that in 2022, Hanning and another individual accepted a contract from Block to carry out the abduction while working for a security firm.
The Blocks, a prominent Hamburg family known for their Block House steakhouse chain, have been at the center of a highly publicized custody trial. German opposition lawmaker Konstantin von Notz expressed dismay over the allegations against Hanning and urged a swift and thorough investigation, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Requests for comments from the BND were unanswered at the time of reporting.