The former head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, was arrested today (Tuesday) on suspicion of espionage.
The 80-year-old Hanning headed the organization between 1998 and 2005.
The charges against him include espionage involving the disclosure of state secrets, treason, and spying for a foreign power.
According to German media reports, Hanning allegedly purchased classified information for a fee from a former BND executive, ostensibly with the aim of "reselling the information as part of his work as a consultant.".
According to a report in Bild, federal criminal police investigators arrested Henning in the early hours of the morning at his home in Nordveld, near Münster.
At the same time, another former senior BND official, Manfred D., who previously served as Henning's head of office and worked for the organization until the spring of 2026, was arrested in Bavaria.
According to reports, Manfred D. is expected to appear before the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe today, while Henning is expected to appear before it on Wednesday.
