August Hanning, ex-head of German Intelligence, arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason

Hanning is strongly suspected of espionage constituting treason, gathering information subject to state secrecy, attempted high treason, as well as agent activities on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, the prosecution specified.

The suspect directed the BND between 1998 and 2005, and served as State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior from 2005 to 2009. The acts of which he is suspected occurred after his tenure leading the intelligence service, the prosecution said.

One of his former associates, Manfred D., who continued to work at the BND, was also arrested.

A judge is expected to decide today on the potential application of the coercive measure of pre-trial detention. the two suspects reportedly agreed, plausibly in the spring of 2010, that Manfred D. would regularly provide Hanning, for remuneration, with valuable information originating from the BND, the prosecution stated.

Hanning was supposed to be able to exploit this information for lucrative purposes within the framework of the private consulting activity he had initiated in the meantime, the source added. According to the same source, approximately 2,000 documents were reportedly transmitted until at least June 2022.

Hanning allegedly used classified content, in particular, to write an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. He was also reportedly in close with a representative of another foreign intelligence service, the prosecution further stated, without specifying.

The investigation into the former BND chief for espionage and treason was initiated following searches conducted in connection with another case. Hanning was suspected of having helped the heiress of a well-known German restaurant chain, Christina Block, organize the abduction of two of her children to take them away from her ex-husband.

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