Former BND chief and aide arrested over alleged espionage for foreign services

August Hanning, who led Germany’s foreign intelligence agency until spring 2026, and his former chief of staff were taken into custody on charges of treason, espionage and illicit intelligence activities. Prosecutors allege they sold briefing material from the chancellor’s office to foreign services in exchange for money, including at least one instance of providing analysis to an external agency. The scandal has drawn harsh criticism worldwide, with commentators calling it one of the gravest intelligence breaches since the Cold War.

Media outlets across Europe and beyond have highlighted the unprecedented nature of the alleged breach and its impact on the agency’s credibility. The affair raises concerns about the security of information handled by the BND and the extent of foreign infiltration.