Germany: Former Intelligence Chief Detained on Charges of Espionage and High Treason

The German Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, August Hanning, has been remanded in custody, following his arrest on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.

In a statement, the prosecutor’s office said that Hanning, 80, faces charges of spying on state secrets and high treason.

German authorities arrested Hanning in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, coinciding with the detention of his former office director, Manfred (D.), in Bavaria, on suspicion of assisting him in committing the same crimes.

According to investigations, after Hanning’s tenure at the intelligence agency ended, Manfred (D.) continued to provide him with classified information and documents from the agency in exchange for money.

Hanning headed Germany’s foreign intelligence agency between 1998 and 2005, before moving to the Ministry of the Interior, where he served as a state secretary, and later worked as a private-sector security consultant.