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BackPanic in MI6. British intelligence agents could have been exposed
Panic in MI6. British intelligence agents could have been exposed
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RMF2458 minutes agoWorld1 min readView original

Panic in MI6. British intelligence agents could have been exposed

The former head of the German intelligence service BND is suspected of collecting secret documents and selling secrets to a foreign state.

August Hanningn.despionage

Quick Look

Former BND head August Hanning and official Manfred D. were detained on Tuesday on charges of espionage and high treason in favor of Azerbaijan.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

August Hanning headed the German intelligence service BND from 1998 to 2005 and held key positions in the security system.

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August Hanning and current senior BND official Manfred D. were detained on Tuesday on charges of espionage and high treason.

The former head of the BND is suspected of illegally collecting thousands of secret documents for 16 years with the help of Manfred D. and selling some of the secrets to a foreign country. As the weekly "Der Spiegel" reports today, German investigators suspect that Hanning was preparing an analysis for Azerbaijani intelligence based on secret information.

Yesterday, German security sources said that some of the confidential information held by Hanning and D. came from partner intelligence agencies of other countries. This means that information regarding British and American intelligence may have been leaked and that agents and informants operating in the field could be identified based on the information shared.

Reviewing sensitive information shared with other intelligence agencies

US and UK intelligence agencies are currently reviewing all sensitive information shared with European allies over the period.

Similar reviews will likely be carried out by all of Germany's intelligence-sharing partners and allies, the Daily Telegraph stressed.

Hanning held key positions in the German security system for several decades. He headed the BND from 1998 to 2005.

He was also the plenipotentiary for the protection of classified information at the German representative office in the GDR and the coordinator of intelligence services at the Chancellor's Office. Later he was, among others, Secretary of State at the German Ministry of the Interior.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • US and UK review of sensitive information

    Very likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

  • What exactly were the documents sent to Azerbaijan?
  • Which agents and informants have been identified?

Related Topics

August Hanning
PeopleManfed D
OrganizationsBNDDer SpiegelDaily TelegraphMinistry of Internal Affairs
PlacesGermanyAzerbaijanGreat BritainUSA
Topicsn.despionageGermanyazerbaijaninterview
This article was originally published by RMF24.

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