August Hanning, former head of the BND, has been detained in a case involving espionage, the disclosure of secrets and attempted treason.

August Hanning, former director of Germany’s foreign intelligence service BND, was reportedly detained on Tuesday morning, October 6, at his home in Nordwalde, near Münster. Federal prosecutors are investigating him in a case involving alleged acts of espionage against the state, disclosure of state secrets, attempted treason, and activities carried out for the benefit of an intelligence service.

The information was published following a joint investigation conducted by WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung and reported by Deutsche Welle. According to investigators, an informant allegedly provided Hanning with classified documents in exchange for sums of money. So far, no details have been provided about the nature of the documents, the period during which the alleged acts took place, or the entity on whose behalf the espionage activities were allegedly carried out.

In the same case, another former high-ranking BND official, identified as Manfred D., was also reportedly arrested. He was allegedly Hanning’s chief of staff between 1998 and 2005 and is suspected of aiding and abetting attempted treason and espionage against the state. Hanning led the BND from 1998 to 2005. The investigation is ongoing, and the German authorities have not publicly presented all the details of the case.