Germany is facing one of its most serious intelligence scandals since the Cold War after former intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, with investigators examining whether classified information was passed to foreign intelligence services.
Hanning, 80, who headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on Oct. 6 alongside his former aide, Manfred D. According to Germany’s federal prosecutors, Hanning allegedly paid for confidential intelligence documents and used the information in his private consulting business.
The case involves approximately 2,000 documents, including classified intelligence briefings prepared for senior German officials. Some reportedly contained sensitive information about Iran’s nuclear program, Russia’s military, and intelligence supplied by allied countries, Reuters reported.
Thousands of documents allegedly obtained over 12 years
Prosecutors allege that Hanning reached an agreement with Manfred D. in 2010 to obtain confidential intelligence in exchange for payment. Manfred D., who continued serving successive BND directors until March 2026, allegedly supplied the documents through June 2022.
According to The Associated Press, Hanning is suspected of using classified material to prepare an intelligence assessment for a foreign intelligence official. Investigators have not established whether the report reached its intended recipient.
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Prosecutors also allege that Hanning shared political information with another foreign intelligence contact over several years.
The investigation reportedly emerged from a separate kidnapping case involving German heiress Christina Block. During that investigation, authorities discovered classified intelligence documents in Hanning’s possession, according to The Guardian.
Both suspects were placed in pretrial detention on Oct. 7. Hanning’s lawyer denied that his client had improperly shared information or harmed German national security.
Investigators examine possible foreign intelligence connections
The identity of the foreign intelligence services involved remains officially undisclosed.
German magazine Der Spiegel reported that investigators were examining possible connections to Azerbaijan, including alleged contact between Hanning and an Azerbaijani intelligence operative. Azerbaijan has denied involvement, while German prosecutors have declined to comment.
Meanwhile, German newspaper Bild reported that investigators were examining whether sensitive information had been passed to a Chinese intelligence contact. No such transfer has been publicly established.
The allegations have raised concerns that intelligence shared with Germany by allied countries may have been compromised.
Espionage scandal threatens Germany’s intelligence partnerships
The arrests have alarmed European intelligence agencies, which are assessing whether confidential information previously shared with Germany was exposed.
According to an Oct. 8 Reuters report, Western intelligence officials are reviewing potential damage from the suspected leaks. One official said information originating from the CIA was among the compromised documents, although the agency has not publicly commented.
A German security official described the potential consequences for intelligence cooperation as “very, very serious.”
The case has also prompted calls for tighter restrictions on former intelligence officials who enter private consulting after leaving government service.
BND President Martin Jaeger said the agency launched an extensive internal investigation after suspicions emerged, emphasizing that there could be no compromise on internal security.
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