Secrets about Iran and Russia.. The arrest of a former German intelligence official

The German authorities announced today, Tuesday (October 6, 2026), the arrest of August Hanning, who led the Foreign Intelligence Service (BND) for more than six years, and his former assistant, on suspicion of espionage and treason by providing foreign agencies with sensitive security information.

Hanning led Foreign Intelligence from December 1998 to November 2005. His chief of staff, Manfred D. whose full identity was not revealed, he also worked as an assistant to Manning’s successors as head of the agency for about 14 years.

After that, he moved to the private sector and worked as a security consultant.

Although the Federal Public Prosecution did not specify in its statement the countries that may have benefited from this information, this case constitutes an embarrassment to the German intelligence services that are seeking to enhance their capabilities and improve their reputation, especially in the face of the growing Russian threat that Berlin monitors through espionage and sabotage activities attributed to Moscow.

Searches are underway at sites linked to both men in several places, including the capital, Berlin.

The prosecution said that Manfred D. He was also chief of staff in the office of Hanning's successors between 2012 and 2026, and used the position to gain access to classified information that he then passed on to Hanning "in exchange for financial compensation."

The prosecution said in a statement, “Hanning is strongly suspected of committing acts of espionage that constitute treason to the state... collecting information that falls within the category of state secrets,” as well as “attempting to commit high treason... and working as an agent for an intelligence service.”

It is suspected that Manfred D. Involved in “aiding and abetting an attempt to commit treason and treasonous espionage.”

She added, "The current findings indicate that Manfred D. provided Hanning over the years with approximately two thousand documents, many of which contained classified information intended exclusively for use by the Federal Intelligence Service for internal purposes."

She explained that “Hanning once used classified intelligence information... to prepare an analysis for an officer in a foreign intelligence service,” although it is not clear whether “the material reached the intended recipient.”

August Hanning is also accused of “close communication with a representative of another foreign intelligence service, to whom he conveyed political information based in part on materials provided by Manfred D. over a period of years.”

According to the German ARD network, the information conveyed by Manfred D. It included materials related to the Iranian nuclear program and the Russian army.

The network quoted security sources as saying that some of this information was received from partner intelligence agencies abroad. Although the unfolding of the case is still in its early stages, it quickly sparked criticism from political officials.

Mark Henrichmann, head of the German parliament's intelligence oversight committee, told AFP that Berlin "will not tolerate the betrayal of secrets." He added, "Anyone who allys with the enemies of our liberal democracy will be exposed," considering that the behavior attributed to Hanning represents "a denial of his job duties."

The MP also expressed his dissatisfaction with the ability of former senior officials who had access to confidential information to move to work in the private sector and exploit their network of relationships and access to information for personal gain, which may allow Germany's opponents to access sensitive information or circles.

He added, "We have repeatedly alerted the federal government to this very problematic matter. It is clear that such practices also constitute an outlet for enemy intelligence services. The full truth about this issue must also be revealed."

Hanning's name has also recently gained attention due to his possible involvement in the kidnapping of the children of Hamburg-based businesswoman Christina Block.

In this case, Hanning and a retired police officer were accused of accepting an assignment from Block for more than 100,000 euros ($112,000) to return the two children from Denmark, where they were living with her ex-husband.

As part of this investigation, Hanning's property was searched in September 2025, which led to the opening of the current investigation.