Key facts
- Former German spy chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage.
- Hanning reportedly had longstanding contacts with a former senior Chinese general, Wang Jianzheng.
- Hanning allegedly shared information from confidential documents with foreign intelligence agents.
- The alleged activities took place after Hanning's retirement, when he worked as a security consultant.
- Hanning's lawyer denied his client had damaged German interests and stated he was being wrongfully prosecuted.
Germany's former spy chief, August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, with reports indicating he had longstanding contacts with a former senior Chinese general. Spiegel magazine reported that Hanning, who led Germany's foreign intelligence service until 2005, had traveled to China multiple times and knew Wang Jianzheng, a former official at China's embassy in East Germany who was an expert on German affairs.