Former German spy chief arrested on suspicion of espionage, attempted treason
August Hanning, 80, who led Germany's BND from 1998 to 2005, faces espionage and attempted treason charges tied to roughly 2,000 classified documents.
TL;DR
- Former German spy chief August Hanning arrested for espionage and attempted treason.
- Hanning allegedly obtained and used classified documents for private consulting and analysis for a foreign intelligence service.
- His former aide, Manfred D., is accused of aiding and abetting by transmitting intelligence to Hanning for payment.
- Approximately 2,000 documents, many classified, were allegedly provided by Manfred D. to Hanning.
- The investigation originated from evidence gathered in an unrelated case involving the abduction of children.
- This is the first detention of a former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service.