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A serving Royal Navy sailor will appear in a London court over alleged spying for a foreign power. The prosecution raises fresh security concerns around protected information inside the armed forces.
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London,Oct 8, 2026 14:16 IST
A serving member of the Royal Navy is due to appear in a London court on Thursday on charges of spying for an undisclosed foreign power. Teddy Young, 24, has been accused under the Security Act of preparing to disclose protected information and of obtaining or retaining such information for the benefit of a foreign power, police said.
Young has been in custody since his arrest at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The Metropolitan Police said the alleged offences took place between November 2024 and May 2025.
According to police, Young allegedly prepared to disclose protected information during that period. He is also accused of obtaining, copying, recording or retaining protected information for the benefit of a foreign power over the same timeframe.
"These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces," Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in London, said in a statement. "We have worked extremely closely with relevant operational colleagues within the Ministry of Defence as our investigation has progressed to ensure appropriate measures could be taken to mitigate any potential risks linked to this matter."
Police said the charges were not linked to the recent security alert at RAF Fairford, a British air base from which US bombers launched strikes against Iran. Three suspicious vans were found near the base in the early hours of September 27, prompting an investigation that led to the arrest of seven men.
Young had previously been arrested on May 21, 2025, and was later released on bail pending further investigation. His security clearance was suspended at the time and he was removed from his duties. In a statement, the Royal Navy acknowledged the arrest of a service member and said, "As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." The case will now move to court, where Young will face charges linked to allegedly handling protected information for the benefit of a foreign power.
With PTI Inputs
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