The relations of the former Head of the Federal Intelligence Service detained in Germany with Israel are on the agenda again

Hanning, who was detained within the scope of the arrest warrant issued against him, is accused of espionage in the nature of treason, investigating state secrets, attempted treason and espionage.

The statement of the children's father, Stefan Hansel, in September 2025, regarding the incident in which employees of an Israeli security company, of which Hanning was a board member, allegedly forced two children living with their father in Denmark into a car on New Year's Eve in 2024 and took them to Germany to their mother, Christina Block, was brought to the agenda again.

In some posts on social media, attention was drawn to Hanning's close relations with former Israeli intelligence officials.

According to the news of the Israel-based "Ynet" news site in 2025, businessman Christina Block's ex-husband Hansel stated in his statement that Danny Yatom, the former Director of Israel's foreign intelligence agency Mossad, also played a role in the "kidnapping of children".

Hansel stated that Hanning approached Yatom about the incident in which his children were forced into a car and taken away.

At that time, Yatom confirmed in a television program that he knew Hanning, but denied any connection with the case.

In the investigation indictment, it was stated that Yaakov Peri, the former head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin-Bet, was also involved in this case.

It was claimed that Hanning contacted Peri, the President of an Israeli private intelligence and security company at the time, and requested "the establishment of an Israeli team to kidnap children."

Peri's company denied the allegations in the case.

How did the process develop?

It was stated that some documents and findings were seized during the search of Hanning's house within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Hamburg Prosecutor's Office against businessman Christina Block and other suspects in September 2025.

Following the review of the findings, it was noted that the investigation was transferred to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, which is responsible for investigating espionage and treason crimes, at the beginning of this year.

In the report of Bild newspaper, it was stated that Hanning is a worldwide consultant in the field of security and has good relations with Israel. The news reported that it was known that Hanning was in financial difficulties.

In the case ongoing in Hamburg, Hanning was accused of being involved in the attempted kidnapping of two children of the Block family.