You have commented 376 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Europe
Former BND chief leaked classified information to Israel
2026-10-22
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited

Text taken from the Telegram channel of RHVDIIS

[ColonelCassad] It has become known to whom the former head of the BND leaked classified information. Not to Putin or even Aliyev (as was initially claimed), but to Israel.

MOSSAD'S TENTACLES IN GERMANY AND ACROSS EUROPE.
Of course competing with Russian SVR, Russian GRU and CIA tentacles
Germany, like other NATO countries, is periodically rocked by spy scandals involving Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad. Israel's intelligence interests include both European member states of the alliance (for example, Greece, Spain, Poland, Montenegro, and, not for the first time, Germany) and the United States.

Israeli spyware, Pegasus, has been used by Mossad against politicians and public figures in Spain and Poland. Greek Member of the European Parliament, Nikos Androulakis, was subjected to surveillance using the Predator spyware, which is owned by Intellexa, a company owned by Tal Dillian (who served in Israeli military intelligence for 24 years).

The saboteurs detained in Montenegro last month (September 2026) turned out to be Mossad operatives. The spy scandal surrounding the arrest of August Hanning, former head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), on October 6, 2026, on suspicion of espionage, has also led to Israeli foreign intelligence. This is supported by his email correspondence with former Mossad Director Danny Yatom.
Spy chiefs don’t talk to each other? Shows what I know, I guess.
Their collaboration involved Hanning passing on confidential information, including on high-ranking German politicians, in exchange for a fee from Yatom (estimates of 10,000 euros or more have been reported).
Oh. That’s different.
Yatom used this information, in particular, in preparation for negotiations with the German side.

European intelligence agencies believe that Hanning leaked information to the Mossad and BND obtained through intelligence exchanges between NATO countries and on a bilateral basis. The investigation also indicates that Hanning leaked materials received from the US CIA. The consequences of these leaks will be grave, not only for Germany, the US, and other NATO countries, but also for their cooperation with Israel. Institute for the Study of Intelligence.

More from El Pais
August Hanning, the German spy who sold his services to the highest bidder
The former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service is suspected of having worked for dictatorial regimes for years


“What makes a good intelligence officer is that they do not attract attention.” This was one of the mottos that August Hanning repeatedly invoked in public appearances during his tenure as head of Germany’s intelligence services. Hanning, now 80, has been in custody since October 6 precisely for attracting too much attention. The former president of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the BND, earned a reputation for being available to the highest bidder, whoever that might be. Germany’s federal prosecutor is investigating him on suspicion of treason and espionage on behalf of foreign countries.

Prosecutors allege that between 2010 and 2022 Hanning purchased more than 2,000 confidential documents from Germany’s federal intelligence services. The alleged source of the material was his former chief of staff during his presidency of the BND from 1998 to 2005. That individual, identified by authorities as Manfred D., is also being held in pretrial detention. According to the federal prosecutor, Hanning, after retiring and working as a private consultant, prepared a report for the intelligence service of a foreign country that authorities have not yet disclosed. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the material was ultimately delivered to the client. Prosecutors also allege that Hanning “maintained intensive contact” with a member of another foreign intelligence service.

The German newspaper Der Spiegel reports that the report prepared by Hanning was intended for Azerbaijan’s intelligence services. It also says that the foreign intelligence official with whom he maintained “intensive contact” was the retired Chinese general Wang Jianzheng.

Die Welt has also pointed to a possible Russian connection. The conservative newspaper published excerpts from a letter Hanning sent in August to the current BND president, Martin Jäger, demanding an explanation as to why Germany’s foreign intelligence service had opened an investigation into him on suspicion of collaborating with Moscow.
Related:
Mossad: 2026-10-21 Two oil tankers ablaze after hitting Iranian mines near Hormuz, Iran blacklists 122 vessels with ‘enforcement action’ for 40
Mossad: 2026-10-21 Massive weapons cache seized in northern Israel in raid on Arab mafia
Mossad: 2026-10-20 IRGC officer killed in clashes with Kurdish forces
Related:
BND: 2026-10-06 Ex-Chief Of German Intelligence Service Arrested For Espionage
BND: 2026-10-05 BND chief warns Germany at risk of 'violent conflict' with Russia amid 'shadow war'
BND: 2026-07-11 Man, 26, arrested on suspicion of murder after Ann Widdecombe found dead at home - BBC News
Related:
Montenegro: 2026-10-16 German court sentences two for plotting to kill leader of German Jewish community for Iran
Montenegro: 2026-09-27 Belgian official says attacks on Jews in country a coordinated effort 'inspired' by Iran
Montenegro: 2026-06-28 Trump Administration's Suspected Gang Member Arrests Hit 10,000 plus the FBI found an efficiency button
Related:
August Hannin 10/06/2026 Ex-Chief Of German Intelligence Service Arrested For Espionage
August Hannin 09/03/2025 Retired Robbers: Former Shin Bet Chief and Mossad Stole Other People's Children in the EU
August Hannin 06/18/2025 First in line: Germany fears retaliatory strikes from Iran

Posted by:badanov

#1  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: Grom the Reflective   2026-10-22 02:18  

00:00