August Hanning, former head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency BND, was arrested by prosecutors on suspicion of espionage. The arrest has caused shock in Germany and abroad, with concerns that it could undermine confidence in the BND and affect cooperation in the transatlantic intelligence community.
August Hanning, former head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), was reportedly arrested by prosecutors on suspicion of espionage and other offenses. His conduct while in office and handling of classified information are under scrutiny, and news organizations have reported the arrest.
Prosecutors said he "used classified information to prepare analytical reports for the intelligence services of other countries," among other allegations. They explained that he had exchanged information closely with officials from another country's intelligence service and provided political intelligence over a period of several years.
Reports by Der Spiegel and others described contacts with individuals linked to China and Azerbaijan. Hanning served as director from 1998 to 2005, then worked as a senior Interior Ministry official before becoming a security consultant.
The arrest has shaken confidence in the BND, and concerns have been raised that it could affect cooperation in the intelligence field between Europe and the United States.