Former German intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence service, the federal prosecutor’s office confirmed.
Hanning, who headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage,” according to an official statement. His arrest marks one of the most high‑profile cases of alleged betrayal within Germany’s intelligence community in recent years.
The former spy chief had previously appeared before the NSA investigative committee in the Bundestag, where he testified on surveillance and intelligence operations. His detention now raises serious questions about the integrity of Germany’s security apparatus and the potential compromise of sensitive information.
Authorities have not disclosed which foreign service allegedly received the secrets, but the case is expected to spark intense debate over counter‑espionage measures and oversight of former intelligence officials.
Hanning’s arrest underscores the growing challenges European nations face in safeguarding classified information amid rising geopolitical tensions and espionage threats.
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