Key facts
- August Hanning, former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND), was arrested on suspicion of treason and spying.
- A judge ordered Hanning, 80, to be held in pre-trial detention.
- Hanning is accused of buying secret documents from a former colleague, Manfred D., and using them to advise a foreign intelligence service.
- Manfred D., 64, who worked under Hanning and retired in March, was also formally arrested.
- Prosecutors allege Hanning agreed in 2010 to pay Manfred D. for information, some of which was classified, until June 2022.
- Hanning's lawyer denied allegations of passing information to Germany's detriment or for payment.
August Hanning, the former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND), has been ordered into pre-trial detention after his arrest on suspicion of treason and spying for a foreign intelligence agency. A judge issued the formal arrest warrant on Wednesday, a day after Hanning, 80, was taken into custody.
Prosecutors accuse Hanning of buying secret documents from a former colleague, identified as Manfred D., and using the information to advise a foreign intelligence service. Hanning's lawyer denied the allegations on Wednesday, stating that while his client was in possession of confidential documents, he did not pass them on to Germany's detriment or for payment.
Manfred D., 64, who previously worked under Hanning and retired in March, was also formally arrested by a judge in Karlsruhe. Prosecutors allege that Hanning agreed in 2010 to pay Manfred D. for information, some of which was classified, which Manfred D. then allegedly smuggled out of the BND until June 2022.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Germany's political and intelligence community, with analysts calling it potentially the country's biggest espionage scandal since the Cold War. It raises questions about the security of Germany's foreign intelligence service and the oversight of retired senior officials who may leverage their insider knowledge.
Prosecutors were reportedly alerted to Hanning's alleged activities through an investigation into a separate child kidnapping case involving a steakhouse restaurant dynasty. Hanning is accused of participating in this case using his past contacts with Israeli intelligence, allegedly receiving over €100,000 for his role.
Reports have also emerged suggesting investigators are looking into a possible connection between Hanning and the foreign intelligence service of Azerbaijan, though Azerbaijan's media and broadcasting council has denied any link, calling it disinformation aimed at damaging Germany-Azerbaijan relations.
The case has drawn comparisons to the Günter Guillaume affair in 1974, where an East German spy infiltrated the government of Chancellor Willy Brandt. Marc Henrichmann, head of the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence services, expressed surprise but noted that the full extent of the alleged wrongdoing is still unclear, emphasizing the need to restore trust in the BND.
Politicians and analysts are calling for stricter regulations on former security employees using their influence and knowledge after retirement. This comes as Germany seeks to strengthen its intelligence agencies amid rising threats from external powers.