# Former BND Chief August Hanning Arrested

October 6, 2026 at 05:55 PM

> Former German intelligence head August Hanning faces espionage and treason charges for allegedly selling state secrets to a foreign power.

[August Hanning](<https://austriareport.com/entity/august-hanning-q451097>), the former head of the German [Federal Intelligence Service](<https://austriareport.com/entity/federal-intelligence-service-q272969>) (BND), has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason. Hanning, who led the agency from 1998 to 2005, is accused of spying for a foreign power and compromising state secrets.

The [Federal Prosecutor General](<https://austriareport.com/entity/public-prosecutor-general-germany-q449319>) alleges Hanning purchased secret information from a former BND management staff member in exchange for payment. Investigators believe he intended to resell the sensitive data as part of his private professional consulting work.

Authorities identified the two suspects through findings in the **Block trial**, which confirmed confidential data leaks. The affected documents were originally intended for the Nachrichtendienstliche Lage, the intelligence situation report in the [Chancellery](<https://austriareport.com/entity/federal-chancellery-of-germany-q317027>).


#AugustHanning #BND #Espionage [#Germany](<https://austriareport.com/hashtag/germany>) #Intelligence

## Related news

## [German Chancellery Halts Sugar Tax Proposal](<https://austriareport.com/article/german-chancellery-halts-sugar-tax-proposal-a1c1aa28>)

October 1, 2026 at 11:06 AM

## [Germany Approves New Fuel Price Brake Measures](<https://austriareport.com/article/germany-approves-new-fuel-price-brake-measures-da49b009>)

September 23, 2026 at 12:01 PM

## [Austria to Tighten Espionage and Radicalization Laws](<https://austriareport.com/article/austria-to-tighten-espionage-and-radicalization-laws-d5ff07e2>)

September 17, 2026 at 09:02 AM