BERLIN, Germany (Diya TV) — German authorities arrested former foreign intelligence chief August Hanning and a former aide Tuesday on suspicion of obtaining classified information and using it in dealings with foreign intelligence services.
Federal prosecutors accused Hanning of espionage, obtaining state secrets and attempted treason. They suspect his former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., of helping him commit the alleged offenses.
Officers arrested Hanning in Bavaria and Manfred D. in North Rhine-Westphalia. Investigators also searched properties in those states and Berlin.
Prosecutors allege the men agreed to a paid information-sharing arrangement after Hanning left the Federal Intelligence Service, known as the BND. Manfred D. later worked for several subsequent BND presidents, giving him access to confidential material.
According to prosecutors, he supplied Hanning with thousands of documents over several years. Many contained classified intelligence, including material prepared for briefings involving senior government and security officials.
Hanning allegedly used the information in his private consulting business. Prosecutors say he prepared an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service using classified material supplied by Manfred D. Investigators have not established whether that analysis reached its intended recipient.
They also allege Hanning passed political information to a representative of another foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors have not identified either country.
The investigation grew out of evidence investigators found while searching Hanning’s property last year in a separate case involving the alleged abduction of Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block’s children from Denmark.
Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz, who serves on Parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, called for a thorough investigation and tighter restrictions on private consulting by former officials with access to state secrets.
The allegations remain unproven. Prosecutors said both suspects would appear before a federal judge to determine whether they should remain in pretrial detention.
