UK and US spy agencies may review shared intelligence after German arrests
The Telegraph says British and US intelligence agencies may be checking information shared with European allies after arrests in Germany. The alleged total of nearly 2,000 BND documents does not identify how much British or American information was involved.
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MI6 and GCHQ, along with several unnamed US agencies, are believed to be reviewing sensitive information shared with European allies, The Telegraph reported on 6 October. The newspaper gave no start date or outcome for the possible reviews. [1]
The concern follows the arrest of former German foreign intelligence chief August Hanning and a BND official identified as Manfred D. Unnamed German security sources told The Telegraph that some information handled by the pair came from foreign intelligence partners. The newspaper said the reported reviews would focus on protecting sources who might be at risk. [1]
German prosecutors allege that Manfred D. supplied Hanning with nearly 2,000 BND documents by June 2022 under an arrangement involving payment. That figure describes the alleged transfer to Hanning, not a known quantity of British or American intelligence. Prosecutors also described an analysis allegedly prepared for a foreign intelligence official, but said they had not established whether it reached its intended recipient. [3] [4]
The BND has confirmed its own internal investigation. That inquiry is separate from the British and US reviews described by The Telegraph. [5] [1]
Former MI6 officer Matthew Dunn told The Telegraph that intelligence-sharing normally includes safeguards to protect sources. He said he would be very surprised if the case damaged MI6’s relationship with the BND. [1]
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