Former BND chief August Hanning arrested over alleged espionage and treason, with prosecutors alleging he traded classified documents to a foreign intelligence service. Hanning, 80, and aide Manfred D. face charges of treasonous espionage and attempted treason.
Hanning, who led the BND from 1998 to 2005, is suspected of passing 2,000 documents, including classified BND material, to a foreign agency in exchange for payments. D., who served as Hanning's chief of staff, is also charged with aiding the treasonous espionage.
The arrests follow a probe into a 2024 custody case involving the abduction of Christina Block's children, which led to the discovery of classified BND documents at Hanning's home. The case highlights concerns over internal security and potential breaches in intelligence cooperation with foreign agencies.