Court Orders German Ex-Spy Chief Kept in Jail After Spying, Treason Arrest
Prosecutors say Hanning may have passed agency secrets to foreign spies after leaving Germany’s BND, while a former aide is accused of selling about 2,000 files.
- On Wednesday, a judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice issued a formal arrest warrant for former BND chief August Hanning, who remains in custody following his Tuesday detention over alleged espionage and attempted treason.
- Prosecutors allege Hanning received approximately 2,000 classified documents from his former chief of staff, Manfred D., between 2010 and 2022, which he reportedly used to his financial advantage while working as a private-sector consultant.
- The investigation originated from Hanning's connection to the high-profile criminal case of heiress Cristina Block; attorney Leon Kruse denied treason charges while admitting his client possessed "confidential documents."
- Azerbaijan officially denied reports linking Baku to the espionage investigation, as international intelligence officials expressed shock over the potential security breach following claims Hanning had contact with an agent from the country.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration vowed a full investigation on Wednesday to address the security breach within the intelligence services, as stricter rules banning former officials from private consulting are under consideration.
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14 Articles
A court in Karlsruhe has ordered the detention of former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) August Hanning, who was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and high treason. It also ruled in the case of his former chief of staff, who is accused of passing him sensitive information, foreign news agencies report.
Radio France Internationale
Court orders German ex-spy chief kept in jail after spying, treason arrest
Prosecutors say the 80-year-old Hanning, who led Germany's BND foreign spy service from 1998 to 2005, illegally obtained agency secrets after becoming a private-sector consultant, some of which he may have passed on to foreign spies. Hanning's former chief of staff, identified by prosecutors only as Manfred D., was also ordered by the court to remain in custody during the investigation. Manfred D., who remained at the agency until March 2026 wo…
August Hanning is investigated for acquiring confidential intelligence and using it as a consultant for foreign organizations
What To Know About The Espionage Allegations Against Germany’s Former Intelligence Chief
BERLIN (AP) — A former head of Germany ’s foreign intelligence service who is charged with passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence service was ordered held in pretrial detention after a judge issued an arrest warrant Wednesday. August Hanning, 80, who is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and […]
Court orders German ex-spy chief kept in jail following treason arrest
A court Wednesday ordered ex-German spy chief August Hanning to remain in jail after his arrest on suspicion of espionage and treason, along with a former deputy who allegedly supplied him with secret files.
An unprecedented event in the history of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND). Its former director August Hanning is under locks, accused of espionage and trafficking in state secrets with a...
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