US secret services send warning to BND after Hanning's arrest

After the arrest of former BND chief August Hanning a few weeks ago, US secret services warned their German colleagues of the consequences, according to media reports. According to research by WDR, NDR and “Süddeutscher Zeitung”, the message was: The German foreign intelligence service is an important partner, but previous cooperation with the service is coming under scrutiny.

Nevertheless, there are no restrictions in the cooperation between the BND and the US intelligence services, the dpa news agency learned from security circles.

During a visit to Atlanta in the USA, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), when asked by a journalist, said that he was the wrong person to contact in the federal government on this issue. At the same time, he added: "But I can't imagine that at all because we have a very successful and trusting cooperation between the intelligence services."

According to the report, the tip reached the BND a few days after Hanning's arrest at the beginning of October. The ex-BND boss is said to have agreed with his former office manager Manfred D. in 2010 that D. should continually provide Hanning, who had left office five years earlier, with valuable BND intelligence in return for payment. Hanning is said to have used this information profitably in his consulting work.

Hanning is now in custody on suspicion of espionage. The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the 80-year-old of acting as a secret service agent, treasonous spying, spying on state secrets and attempted treason.

It is common for intelligence services of friendly countries to exchange information - but with the understanding that the source will be treated confidentially and with strict conditions for disclosure.

The Americans' irritation has not affected the cooperation so far, it was said. “The cooperation is in the normal state of cooperation,” the German Press Agency learned from security circles. “Just a few work meetings have been postponed.” These have now been rescheduled.

When asked by the dpa, the BND itself did not want to comment. "As a general rule, the Federal Intelligence Service does not comment publicly on matters that concern any intelligence findings or activities. This naturally also includes all aspects of international cooperation," it said. This does not make any statement as to whether facts are correct or not.