The German Federal Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the arrest of August Hanning, the former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, on suspicion of espionage and treason. Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, is accused of obtaining classified information for a foreign power. A second individual, former BND employee Manfred D, was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
Hanning has worked as a private consultant since leaving the BND in 2005. Investigators allege that he maintained contact with two foreign spying services, using classified intelligence to draft an analysis for one of them. Manfred D, who served as Hanning's bureau chief and later as chief of staff for Hanning’s successors until 2026, allegedly used his position to access confidential documents. Authorities stated the foreign powers involved have not yet been disclosed.
According to prosecutors, Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 internal BND documents over several years in exchange for payment. The investigation into Hanning’s possession of these documents reportedly emerged during a separate legal case involving steakhouse heiress Christina Block and a 2023 custody dispute. While Hanning denies involvement in an alleged kidnapping attempt related to that case, police reportedly discovered an electronic storage device containing sensitive BND information during that inquiry.
The knock-on effects concern Germany’s standing with allied intelligence agencies. Current BND chief Bruno Kahl previously testified in a separate 2024 treason trial that insider betrayals cause "serious reputational damage" and represent a "catastrophe" for the service. This new case follows the 2022 arrest of another high-ranking officer, Carsten L, who was accused of taking roughly €400,000 to share Ukraine war intelligence with Russia. The recurring nature of these allegations may lead to stricter internal vetting and screening processes for federal employees and contractors who handle sensitive data.
What happens next depends on the preliminary court appearances for both men. Manfred D was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while Hanning is due for a court appearance on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Hanning was arrested at his home in Nordwalde, and Manfred D was taken into custody in Bavaria. Further details regarding the specific foreign powers involved or the content of the 2,000 documents have not yet been released by the Federal Prosecutor's Office.