Germany's ex-spy chief arrested for espionage, disclosing state secrets and attempted treason

August Hanning, the man who once led Germany's spy service, is now under investigation for passing on state secrets.

Police have arrested the former head of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency, August Hanning, on suspicion of espionage, the federal prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

Hanning served as the agency's chief from December 1998 to November 2005 before moving to the Federal Interior Ministry, where he worked as state secretary until November 2009.

According to a statement from the prosecutor's office, the 80-year-old faces charges including espionage, disclosure of state secrets, attempted treason and working as a secret service agent.

It did not say which foreign intelligence service he is suspected of working for.

The statement added that another former high-ranking BND employee was also arrested on suspicion of providing hundreds of classified documents to Hanning after his tenure as spy chief ended in exchange for payment.

DW's chief political editor Michaela Küfner, reporting from a government press briefing on the arrest, described the case as Germany's "biggest espionage scandal of the century."

Police arrested Hanning early Tuesday at his home in Nordwalde near the western German city of Münster, according to information from WDR, NDR and the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Hanning's alleged accomplice, who was identified only as Manfred D. in line with Germany's privacy laws, was taken into custody in Bavaria.

Authorities were conducting searches at both suspects' properties, as well as in Berlin, the prosecutor said.

During Hanning's tenure as spy head, D. served as his chief of staff. He also subsequently worked under Hanning at the Interior Ministry until 2009.

He is facing charges of "aiding and abetting attempted treason and espionage against the state."