Drama in Germany: Former head of intelligence services arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason
August Hanning, former head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason. His former assistant, Manfred D., was also arrested. The German prosecution stated that Hanning is suspected of espionage constituting treason, collecting secret intelligence, attempting serious treason, and acting as an agent of an intelligence service. The arrest took place in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district in southern Germany. The identity of the entity for whom he allegedly spied was not disclosed.
Drama in Germany: August Hanning, former head of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason. Hanning, who served in the senior position between 1998 and 2005, was arrested in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district in southern Germany. His former assistant, identified only as Manfred D., was also arrested. The German prosecution stated that Hanning is suspected of espionage constituting treason against the homeland, collecting intelligence classified as state secrets, attempting serious treason, and acting as an agent of an intelligence service. The prosecution did not disclose for whom Hanning allegedly spied. This is an extremely unusual event, as Hanning is one of the former senior figures in the German security establishment. The investigation is ongoing.