Former German foreign intelligence service head August Hanning, 80, was arrested on Tuesday alongside his former office manager, Manfred D., on suspicion of attempted treason and espionage. Hanning allegedly obtained thousands of classified documents to prepare material for an unnamed foreign intelligence service.

Federal prosecutors stated that Hanning paid for access to secret BND documents, which he used to prepare an analysis for a foreign agency, though it remains unclear if the material was delivered. German media reported that roughly 2,000 internal documents may be involved, with some material intended for high-level intelligence briefings at the German chancellery.

Hanning's former aide allegedly continued passing him classified material long after Hanning left the BND, prompting prosecutors to examine if the information was used in private consulting work. Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005 and later served as a senior official in the Interior Ministry.

The BND launched an internal investigation after discovering the suspected leak. BND President Martin Jaeger stated the agency acted immediately to protect national security and determine how sensitive information left the service.

Jaeger warned just one day earlier that Germany faces an increasingly dangerous shadow war of espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and hostile activity below conventional warfare levels.