Former German intelligence chief arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason

The former head of Germany’s intelligence service, August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason, according to several media reports, in a case that could turn into one of the biggest espionage scandals in Germany, Anadolu reports.

The newspapers “Bild” and “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” reported today that federal prosecutors are investigating Hanning, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, as well as a second suspect.

According to “Bild”, the suspicions include obtaining state secrets, treason and espionage for a foreign power. The newspaper said Hanning paid a former member of the BND’s senior staff for classified information and allegedly “planned to resell” it as part of his work as a consultant.

“Sueddeutsche Zeitung” reported that Hanning was provided with secret materials by the service several years after he had left office, by his former office director. Investigators are examining whether he passed those secrets on to foreign powers, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper described the case as potentially one of the biggest espionage cases in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.