Federal Prosecutors: Former German Spy Chief August Hanning Arrested

August Hanning, who led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on October 6, 2026, in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen on suspicion of passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence service. Federal prosecutors stated that the 80-year-old former official is strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage.

August Hanning and Manfred D. Arrested in Espionage Probe

The federal prosecutor’s office announced that a former high-ranking aide, identified as Manfred D., was arrested on October 6, 2026, in Steinfurt. Manfred D. has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage. Prosecutors said Manfred D. worked as Hanning’s chief of staff and later served as chief of staff for several subsequent agency presidents from 2012 until 2026.

Investigators stated that both men agreed in 2010 to have Manfred D. continuously transmit valuable intelligence from the intelligence service to Hanning in exchange for payment. The current findings suggest that Manfred D. provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents over the years, many of which contained classified information intended exclusively for internal executive briefings.

Classified Documents Used in Private Consulting Work

Prosecutors detailed that Hanning used the acquired information in private consulting work. On one occasion, Hanning used classified intelligence provided by Manfred D. to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence agency, sharing political information for years.

While the federal prosecutor’s statement did not reveal who the two men were suspected of spying for, information obtained by the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper indicated that the case does not involve Russia. The premises of both suspects were searched by law enforcement on October 6, 2026.

Custody Battle Investigation Triggers BND Raids

The proceedings against Hanning stemmed from evidence found during a previous search of his residence. That earlier search was conducted in connection with an investigation into a 2024 child custody dispute involving a prominent Hamburg family.

Intelligence Agency Launches Internal Security Investigations

Following the arrests, Federal Intelligence Service President Martin Jaeger stated that his agency had launched extensive internal investigations as soon as suspicions emerged, adding that there can be no compromises on internal security,

Spiegel Online reported that critics have called for banning former officials with high security clearances from engaging in private consulting work after leaving office, pointing to the wide-ranging lobbying activities of former top officials.