German authorities have arrested August Hanning, the former head of Germany’s BND intelligence service, according to information cited by Bild, as part of an investigation into espionage and the leaking of state secrets.

Hanning, who headed the BND from 1998 to 2005, is allegedly facing charges of espionage involving classified state matters, high treason and cooperation with a foreign power.

According to Bild, the former intelligence chief allegedly obtained classified information for money from a former senior BND official, with the intention of reselling it as part of his consulting activities.

The investigation into the two suspects has been taken over by Germany’s federal prosecutor general.

Investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) arrested Hanning early Tuesday morning at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster.

At the same time, authorities arrested another former senior BND official in Bavaria. He is Manfred D., who previously served as Hanning’s chief of staff and remained with the agency until spring 2026.

According to the report, Manfred D. is expected to appear before the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe today, while Hanning is due to appear before a judge on Wednesday.

The case that led authorities to them

Authorities reportedly traced the two men during investigations surrounding the case of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block, who, along with other defendants, is on trial over the alleged violent abduction of her two children.

As part of that investigation, Bild reports, indications emerged of information being leaked from the BND. The information was intended for the so-called “intelligence briefing” of the Chancellery.

Whether Hanning directly passed information to a foreign power remains under investigation.

It is known, however, that after leaving public service he worked as a consultant on security and business matters at an international level. He also maintained contacts with Russia and China, including with state institutions in both countries, and is said to have had communication channels reaching close to the Kremlin.

The financial problems

Bild also reports that Hanning had been facing significant financial difficulties for years, as part of his pension had been seized.

The reason was reportedly his membership on the supervisory board of a bank in the Baltic countries that went bankrupt following actions by an oligarch.

Members of the supervisory board, including Hanning and former NATO Secretary General and former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, were called upon to answer for their actions.

It remains unknown whether Hanning’s financial problems are connected to his alleged dealings involving state secrets.

Investigations ongoing since 2025

Hamburg prosecutors had already conducted a search in September 2025 at a property belonging to Hanning in the Westerwald region, as well as at his offices.

At the time, officially, the investigation concerned only the Block case. However, it had already attracted attention that a covert investigator had been placed in a company linked to Hanning.

According to Bild, this could mean that investigations into possible high treason had already begun at that time.

August Hanning had previously also served at the Permanent Mission of West Germany in East Berlin, while from 1998 until November 2005 he was president of the BND.

He later took up a senior position at the German Interior Ministry, overseeing the security services during the period when Wolfgang Schäuble was minister.