BERLIN — German authorities arrested August Hanning, the former president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), on Tuesday. The federal prosecutor’s office stated that the 80-year-old is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage. Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005.
The arrest took place in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. Alongside Hanning, a former aide identified only as Manfred D. was detained in Steinfurt in western Germany. Manfred D. faces charges of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage. Federal investigators searched the premises of both men on Tuesday.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Manfred D. served as Hanning’s chief of staff and continued in that role for several subsequent BND presidents from 2012 until 2026. Due to this position, he had access to confidential information. Prosecutors allege that the two men agreed in 2010 for Manfred D. to continuously transmit valuable intelligence from the BND to Hanning in exchange for payment.
The statement indicated that Manfred D. provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents over several years. Many of these contained classified information intended exclusively for internal executive intelligence briefings. Hanning allegedly used this information for private consulting work. On at least one occasion, he utilized classified intelligence provided by his aide to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service.
Authorities did not disclose which country the foreign agent represented. The prosecutor noted it has yet to be determined whether the material reached the intended recipient. However, the statement confirmed that Hanning maintained close contact with a representative of another foreign intelligence service for several years, passing on political information partially based on material from Manfred D.
The current espionage investigation originated from evidence discovered during a search of Hanning’s residence linked to a separate case. Hanning is also a suspect in a high-profile child abduction case involving Christina Block, a Hamburg businesswoman. In January 2024, Block’s children were abducted from their father in Denmark amidst a prolonged custody battle. Hanning and a retired official from the Hamburg State Criminal Police Office are suspected of accepting a contract from Block in 2022 to abduct the children while serving as executives of a security firm.
The Block family is prominent in Hamburg, best known for the Block House steakhouse chain. The custody trial has attracted significant media attention in Germany. A request for comment from the BND was not immediately returned.
Opposition lawmakers have demanded a rapid response. Konstantin von Notz, a Green party member and representative on the Bundestag committee overseeing intelligence services, expressed shock at the allegations. “This is a hard-hitting and deeply troubling story,” von Notz told Spiegel Online, calling for a swift and thorough investigation.
Von Notz highlighted long-standing concerns regarding the lobbying activities of former top officials with high security clearances. He advocated for a ban on former officials with such clearances engaging in private consulting work after leaving office.
Honestly, this custody battle scandal is just as wild as the treason charges. What a bizarre combination of crimes for one man.
Does anyone know which country received the intelligence? The article says they haven’t disclosed it yet, which is worrying.
Wait, was he using classified intel to write analyses for foreign services? That is a massive breach of trust and seriously damaging.
I can’t believe the aide worked there until 2026. How did he keep doing this for decades without anyone noticing?
This is absolutely shocking. An 80-year-old former spy chief selling secrets? The integrity of the BND must be in question.