German police have arrested the country’s former intelligence chief on suspicion of spying for a foreign power.
August Hanning led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. Prosecutors now accuse him of espionage, treason and obtaining secret information. A former BND employee, named only as Manfred D., was arrested with him.
Manfred D. stayed at the agency until this year. Investigators say he used that access to take about 2,000 classified files. He allegedly sold them to Hanning.
Hanning then used the material to write an analysis, prosecutors say. It was meant for an officer of a foreign intelligence service. He also allegedly kept in touch with a second foreign agency. Authorities have not named either country.
Both men will appear in court soon. Manfred D. is due before a judge on Tuesday. Hanning follows on Wednesday.
The case came to light by chance. Police were looking into a separate child-custody dispute. That dispute involves steakhouse heiress Christina Block.
Meta description: Germany has detained former BND chief August Hanning and a past agency employee over claims that 2,000 secret documents were sold to a foreign power.
Focus keyphrase: August Hanning arrested
Tags: August Hanning, BND, Germany, espionage, treason, Manfred D., Christina Block
