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Former German foreign intelligence chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and attempting to betray state secrets, German federal prosecutors said.
Hanning, 80, who headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on Tuesday in southern Germany.
His former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting treason and espionage.
According to prosecutors, Hanning allegedly paid Manfred D. to obtain confidential intelligence from the BND.
Investigators believe the former aide supplied around 2,000 documents over several years, many of which contained classified information intended for internal use by the intelligence service and the chancellor’s office.
Prosecutors also allege that Hanning used some of the classified information to prepare an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service and maintained contact with another foreign intelligence representative to whom he passed political information.
Authorities have not identified the foreign intelligence service involved and said it remains unclear whether the material reached its intended recipient.
German media have reported a possible connection to Azerbaijan, while officials have indicated that the case does not involve Russia.
The arrests followed evidence uncovered during a separate investigation involving Hanning. Both men’s properties were searched as part of the espionage investigation.
The case is considered one of the most serious intelligence scandals in Germany in decades. BND chief Martin Jäger said the agency had launched an extensive internal investigation, stressing that there could be “no compromises” on internal security.