The former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of treason and conducting espionage on behalf of foreign governments, in a major blow to Berlin’s security establishment.
Though the BND has historically been plagued by spying scandals — deterring some Western partners from sharing intelligence — August Hanning, who left the agency in 2005, is its first former chief to face charges.
The revelations add pressure on an intelligence establishment trying to remake itself after decades, and complicate Berlin’s efforts to counter Russia’s hybrid war, as lawmakers debate expanding the BND’s powers. But a ruling party lawmaker cast the arrest in a positive light, telling DW it shows that Germany “will not tolerate the betrayal of secrets.”