UK police arrests two persons amid claims of spying for China

SMA NEWS – LONDON
UK police have confirmed Sunday that two men, one in his 20s and another in his 30s, were arrested under the official secret act in March, amid claims of spying for China, said BBC Sunday.

The BBC quoted the Sunday Times as saying one of the men, in his 20s, was a researcher with links to several Tory MPs, adding that both men were taken to a south London police station, and were subsequently released on police bail until a date in early October.

“One of the arrested men is alleged to have had links to security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns, among others,” it added.

On Sunday morning, UK prime minister spokesperson said Rishi Sunak had expressed concerns about Chinese interference to a senior official from China.

Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee issued a long-awaited report in July, warning that the government had been slow to come to terms with the security risks from Beijing.

“It appears that China has a high level of intent to interfere with the UK government, targeting officials and bodies at a range of levels to influence UK political thinking and decision-making relevant to China,” the report said.

A spokesperson said the prime minister had met Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the G20 summit in India, and “conveyed his significant concerns about Chinese interference the UK’s parliamentary democracy”.

Several government sources declined to comment on security matters.

The Metropolitan Police said: “A man in his 30s was arrested at an address in Oxfordshire and a man in his 20s was arrested at an address in Edinburgh.

“Searches were also carried out at both the residential properties, as well as at a third address in east London.”

Both men were taken to a south London police station, and were subsequently released on police bail until a date in early October, it said.