Former German spy chief arrested for espionage and treason
Prosecutors say August Hanning bought secret information from a former BND employee and may have tried to pass it to a foreign power.
- On Tuesday, German federal prosecutors arrested former Federal Intelligence Service president August Hanning and an aide identified as Manfred in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen on suspicion of espionage, treason, and obtaining classified information.
- Prosecutors allege Hanning bought secret BND intelligence reports intended for the German Chancellery to leverage for his private consulting activities, following discovery of an alleged leak of sensitive materials.
- Hanning served as president of the Federal Intelligence Service from Dec. 1998 to Nov. 2005, a tenure marked by significant restructuring within Germany's intelligence apparatus.
- Authorities have not publicly disclosed which foreign country or service may be involved, while the BND and Germany's federal prosecutor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Further details are expected as the investigation develops, with the case demonstrating a potential security breach within Germany's intelligence oversight at the highest levels.
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257 Articles
August Hanning, who ran Germany's Federal Intelligence Service between 1998 and 2005, is suspected of charges including 'attempted treaty' and 'spionage,' granting to a statement from federal advocates on Tuesday.
The arrest of a former German foreign intelligence officer rekindles concerns about the protection of state secrets.
Ottumwa Courier
Ex-spy chief is arrested in Germany on suspicion of trading state secrets and treason
Germany's federal prosecutor's office says a former foreign intelligence chief has been arrested on espionage allegations. August Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, faces charges of treasonous espionage and spying out state secrets. He was…
August Hanning led the intelligence service from December 1998 to November 2005. Police arrested him early Tuesday.
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