THREE men have been charged under the National Security Act with allegedly assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference, the Metropolitan Police said.
Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, will appear Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today, the Metropolitan Police said.
GettyThe Met Police has charged three men with spying (file photo)[/caption]
“The foreign intelligence service to which the above charges relate is that of Hong Kong,” a Met Police spokesperson said.
The Metropolitan Police said the Hong Kong investigation was not related to a separate case involving Russia.
As part of the investigation, a total of 11 people were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act.
Eight men and a woman were arrested by officers on May 1 in the Yorkshire area, before a man was arrested in London and another man was arrested in the Yorkshire area the following day, the force said.
Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, Trickett, of Maidenhead, and Yuen, of Hackney, were each charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act, and with foreign interference, contrary to section 13(2) and (7) of the same Act.
The Met said seven men and one woman were released from custody from custody on or before May 10.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s counter terrorism command, said: “This operation is not connected to a recently reported counter-terrorism policing investigation linked to Russia.
“A number of arrests were made and searches carried out across England as part of this investigation.
“While these offences are concerning, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them.
“This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought, I urge people not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”
It follows an investigation led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command with support from colleagues from the North East and South East Counter Terrorism Policing Units.
GettyCops describe the offences as being ‘concerning’ (file photo)[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
