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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Kirsten Grieshaber

What to know about the espionage allegations against Germany's former intelligence chief

August Hanning Germany Espionage Manfred D BND Friedrich Merz
Germany Security - (DPA)

A former head of Germany ’s foreign intelligence service who is charged with passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence service was ordered held in pretrial detention after a judge issued an arrest warrant Wednesday.

August Hanning, 80, who is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage,” led the Federal Intelligence Service, known by its German acronym BND, from 1998 to 2005. He was arrested Tuesday.

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