Ex-spy chief is arrested in Germany on suspicion of trading state secrets, treason
Former German intelligence chief August Hanning and his former aide were arrested on charges of treason and espionage. Prosecutors allege the pair traded approximately 2,000 classified documents for payment over several years.
Why it matters
This represents a significant security breach within Germany's intelligence apparatus, potentially compromising state secrets and international intelligence relations.
A former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service was arrested on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) on suspicion that he had passed state secrets to a foreign intelligence service, the federal prosecutor's office said.
August Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service, known by its German acronym BND, from 1998 to 2005, is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage,” the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Mr. Hanning, 80, was arrested in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. A former aide, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested in Steinfurt in western Germany and has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
The statement did not reveal who the two men were suspected of spying for. The premises of both men were searched on Tuesday (October 6).
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Ex-spy chief is arrested in Germany on suspicion of trading state secrets and treason
Former German spy chief arrested for espionage and treason
Germany arrests former domestic intelligence chief over alleged spying
Germany arrests former spy chief over treason and espionage allegations
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