Former German Intelligence Chief Arrested in Treason Probe

Federal prosecutors allege that Hanning, who led the BND until 2005, collaborated with a former office aide to siphon top-secret material from the agency. Investigators uncovered the breach while probing Hanning’s involvement in a separate child custody dispute. During a search of his property last year, police seized an electronic device containing sensitive briefings on Iran’s nuclear program and Russian military activities—reports originally intended for weekly security meetings at the federal chancellery.

Evidence suggests the operation functioned as a side business for Hanning’s private security consultancy. Prosecutors claim he and his accomplice, identified as Manfred D., exchanged intelligence for payment. If proven, the case marks an unprecedented security failure, potentially compromising years of cooperation with foreign partner services who may now view the BND as a compromised institution. Hanning, who also served as a state secretary at the interior ministry after his BND tenure, has faced prior scrutiny for allegedly attempting to frame the ex-husband of a client in a custody battle. Neither Hanning nor his legal representatives have addressed the latest espionage charges.