The former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, was arrested today on suspicion of espionage.
According to German media reports, Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005.
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has charged him with high treason, espionage and revealing state secrets.
A second BND official is also under investigation in connection with the case. Until last spring, he was the agency’s head of personnel, a position he had held since the period when Hanning was its chief.
Classified documents
The former BND chief is accused of buying classified information from the second defendant in exchange for payment and using it as part of consultancy work for foreign intelligence services.
He is also accused of using the information he purchased to prepare one or more security assessments for foreign intelligence services.
The information was also used to communicate with an agent of a foreign intelligence service, while Hanning is alleged to have bought more than 2,000 classified documents from the second defendant.
The two arrested men are expected to appear before the Federal Investigating Judge today.
The case is described as one of the biggest espionage cases in Europe in recent decades.
Source: CNA
