Former German spy chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office said.

Axar.az informs, citing BBC, Hanning headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005 and has since been working as a private consultant.

Prosecutors allege that he used classified intelligence to "draft an analysis" for one foreign intelligence service and maintained contact with another foreign spying service. Investigators have not disclosed which foreign powers were involved.

Police also arrested former BND employee Manfred D, accusing him of passing Hanning about 2,000 classified documents for money.

Manfred D, who was Hanning's bureau chief and remained in the BND until this year, is charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.

Local media reported Hanning was arrested at his home in Nordwalde near Münster while Manfred D was arrested in Bavaria. Hanning is due in court on Wednesday and Manfred D will appear on Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Manfred D, who also served as the chief of staff for Hanning's successors between 2012 and 2026, used his role to gain access to highly confidential information which he then passed on to Hanning "in exchange for remuneration".

"The current findings suggest that, over the years, Manfred D provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information to be used exclusively by the Federal Intelligence Service for internal purposes," the statement said.