Ex-German spy chief arrested over alleged treason, espionage

Former German quality chief, August Hanning has been arrested connected suspicion of passing authorities secrets to a overseas quality service, Germany’s national prosecutors person said.

Hanning, 80, who headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from December 1998 to November 2005, is accused of espionage, treason and obtaining classified accusation for a overseas power.

According to prosecutors, the allegations centre connected claims that Hanning paid for entree to classified documents and utilized immoderate of the worldly to hole an investigation for a overseas quality officer.

The national prosecutor’s bureau said Hanning allegedly reached an statement with a erstwhile bureau manager successful 2010, astir 5 years aft leaving the BND, nether which helium would person confidential accusation successful speech for payment.

Hanning is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying retired authorities secrets, attempted treason, and espionage,” prosecutors said.

He was arrested successful Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen successful confederate Germany. Hanning besides served arsenic authorities caput astatine the Federal Interior Ministry until November 2009.

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