London police announced Wednesday that three men have been arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services, in violation of the National Security Act of 2023. Police did not name the suspects, noting that none have been formally charged.
The arrests include a 39-year-old in London, a 68-year-old in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old in Pontyclun, Wales. Authorities said there was no imminent or direct threat to the public connected to the case.
Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in 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.”
One of the men was the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, representing East Kilbride and Strathaven in Scotland. Reid issued a statement confirming her husband was among those arrested but claimed she was not involved.
“I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law,” she said. “I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.” She did not name her husband, David Taylor, who is 39.
The arrests come during a spike in the United Kingdom of cases involving individuals accused of spying or attempting political interference on behalf of China. In November, MI5 issued a warning to British lawmakers that Chinese agents were making “targeted and widespread” efforts to recruit and cultivate them using platforms like LinkedIn and cover companies.
Beijing has predictably denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the UK remains vigilant. “The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom,” Jarvis said, reports NBC News. “We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
The arrests include a 39-year-old in London, a 68-year-old in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old in Pontyclun, Wales. Authorities said there was no imminent or direct threat to the public connected to the case.
Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in 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.”
One of the men was the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, representing East Kilbride and Strathaven in Scotland. Reid issued a statement confirming her husband was among those arrested but claimed she was not involved.
“I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law,” she said. “I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.” She did not name her husband, David Taylor, who is 39.
The arrests come during a spike in the United Kingdom of cases involving individuals accused of spying or attempting political interference on behalf of China. In November, MI5 issued a warning to British lawmakers that Chinese agents were making “targeted and widespread” efforts to recruit and cultivate them using platforms like LinkedIn and cover companies.
Beijing has predictably denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the UK remains vigilant. “The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom,” Jarvis said, reports NBC News. “We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
