
A major espionage scandal has rocked Germany, after authorities arrested the former head of the foreign intelligence service, August Hanning, on suspicion of espionage, treason and leaking state secrets.
Hanning, 80, headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office suspects him of "espionage to the detriment of the state", embezzlement of state secrets, attempted treason and activities in the interest of a foreign service.
Also arrested with him was a former BND collaborator, identified as Manfred D., who is suspected of providing Hanning with confidential information many years after he left the service.
According to investigators, since 2010, Manfred D. has transmitted to Hanning around 2,000 documents, many of them classified and intended only for internal use by German intelligence. Hanning is suspected of using these materials in his private consulting business.
One of the classified documents is suspected of being used by Hanning to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. German authorities have not disclosed which country was involved and are investigating whether the information ended up with its intended recipient.
The investigation has raised suspicions of one of the most serious espionage cases in modern German history. Authorities have also searched the homes and premises of the two suspects after their arrest.
Investigations continue, while so far the foreign power suspected of having leaked the secret information has not been made public.