London, March 4, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – Three men have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, and “targeting UK democracy.”
The Metropolitan Police said the suspects aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested by counter-terrorism officers in London and Wales, after being accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
All three men remain in custody, and searches have been carried out at the addresses where they were arrested, the force added.
Those arrested included the partner of a Labour lawmaker, according to several reports.
Chinese officials in the UK and Beijing have been given a dressing down, a minister told MPs.
Updating the Commons, security minister Dan Jarvis said there will be “severe consequences” if it is proven that China attempted to interfere with UK sovereign affairs.
Jarvis said the investigation “relates to China” and “foreign interference targeting UK democracy”.
He told MPs: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.
“The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.
“The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of state threats.
“The action counter-terrorism police have been able to take this morning, is an example that that legislation is working well.”
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.”
In addition to the addresses where the suspects were arrested, the Met said three other properties in London, East Kilbride in Scotland, and Cardiff have also been searched.
GNA