Germany.. Arrest of Former Intelligence Chief on Suspicion of Espionage and Treason

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The Federal Prosecutor in Germany announced today, Tuesday, the arrest of the former head of the German intelligence agency, August Hanning, who held his position from 1998 to 2005, along with an employee in the intelligence office named Manfred D., in connection with suspicions of leaking confidential documents and intelligence information.

The charges against Hanning include espionage and treason, spying on state secrets, and attempted treason.

According to the arrest warrant, the two men agreed in 2010 that Manfred D. would leak confidential intelligence information to Hanning in exchange for money.

It is believed that Manfred D. handed over to Hanning approximately two thousand documents over the past years, many of which were classified, secret, and intended for internal use by the German intelligence agency.

Some of this information was related to high-level intelligence briefings provided to senior officials in the German government and security agencies.

Hanig is also suspected of having been in close contact for years with a representative of a foreign intelligence agency, and that he conveyed political information to them, some of which was based on materials obtained from Manfred D.

Hanig led the German foreign intelligence service "BND" from December 1998 until November 2005, while a former employee who was close to him was also arrested on suspicion of continuing to provide Hanig with information obtained by the agency even after his service ended.

According to the federal prosecutor, Hanig is suspected of having used the information he received from the former employee in his consulting work after leaving the leadership of the intelligence agency.

German media described the documents obtained by Hanig as highly sensitive, noting that some relate to the Iranian nuclear program and the Russian military, and also include information from partner foreign intelligence agencies.