A serving member of the Royal Navy, Teddy Young, 24, has been charged with spying after an investigation by counter-terror police and is due to appear at Westminster magistrates' court.
Key facts
- Teddy Young, 24, from Bedfordshire, has been charged under the National Security Act.
- He is accused of obtaining protected information that could benefit an unnamed foreign power.
- Sky News reports the country is believed to be Russia.
- He is a serving member of the Royal Navy.
- He was due to appear at Westminster magistrates' court.
A serving member of the Royal Navy has been charged with spying, police have said. Teddy Young, 24, from Bedfordshire, was charged under the National Security Act after an arrest by counter-terror police.
According to the Guardian, Young was charged with obtaining protected information that could benefit an unnamed foreign power. He was due to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on the day the charge was announced.
Sky News reported that the serviceman had been charged with spying for a foreign country, which it said is believed to be Russia, following an investigation by counter-terror police.
No further details about the alleged offence, the information involved or the identity of the foreign power have been formally confirmed by police in the sources available.
Why it matters
The charging of a serving member of the armed forces under the National Security Act concerns the alleged handling of protected British information on behalf of a foreign state. The allegations have not been tested in court, and further details have not yet been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Who has been charged?
Teddy Young, 24, from Bedfordshire, a serving member of the Royal Navy, has been charged under the National Security Act.
What is he accused of?
He is accused of obtaining protected information that could benefit an unnamed foreign power. Sky News reports the country is believed to be Russia.
Where will the case be heard?
Young was due to appear at Westminster magistrates' court, according to the Guardian.