Former BND President August Hanning arrested on suspicion of espionage
Investigations into treasonous spying and secret service agent activity against August Hanning and his former office manager.
Quick Look
- Former BND President August Hanning and his ex-office manager Manfred D. were arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason.
- D. is said to have given Hanning around 2,000 secret BND documents in exchange for money for years.
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Why It Matters
Search at Hanning in September 2025 as part of an investigation into the alleged child abduction in the Christina Block case.
Dusseldorf. The former president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage. The Handelsblatt learned this from security circles. Officials from the Federal Criminal Police Office arrested the 80-year-old on Tuesday morning at his home in Nordwalde near Münster. At the same time, his former office manager Manfred D. was taken into custody in Bad Tölz.
As “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, NDR and WDR report, there are, among other things, allegations of treasonous spying, attempted treason and secret service agent activity. D. is therefore accused of aiding and abetting. The Federal Prosecutor's Office initially did not comment on the matter and announced a press release.
D. is said to have given Hanning around 2,000 secret BND documents in exchange for money over the years. According to the report, this included situation assessments, material from foreign partner services as well as documents on the Iranian nuclear program and the Russian military. Hanning is said to have prepared a security analysis for a foreign intelligence service at least once.
The investigators got on the trail through a search of Hanning in September 2025. This was in connection with investigations into a suspected planned child abduction in the Christina Block case. Hanning denied any involvement. When evaluating seized data carriers, the officers are said to have come across the BND documents.
What to Watch
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Press release from the Federal Prosecutor's Office
Very likely · Within hours
Open Questions
- Which foreign intelligence service is involved?
- How does the Federal Prosecutor's Office officially react?
