Three men have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, the Metropolitan Police have said.
The men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023.
Officers arrested a 39-year-old man in London, a 68-year-old man in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, Wales. They were all taken into custody, where they remain.
The investigation relates to China, police said, adding that the arrested were supported by Welsh and Scottish officers from the Counter Terrorism Policing.
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Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.
“Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.”
She added that counter terror offices have “seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years”.
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Speaking in the House of Commons, security minister Dan Jarvis confirmed that the arrests “related to foreign interference targeting UK democracy”.
He added: “We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.”
Listing various attempts in recent years by China to “obtain information on UK policymaking and interfere with our sovereign affairs”, the minister then said: “This government will not tolerate it.”
Mr Jarvis also told MPs that “it continues to be in our long-term strategic interests to engage with China”, but added “this is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations”.
