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Royal Navy member charged with spying for foreign power

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 08:19 · Archive

Teddy Young, 24, a Royal Navy member, has been charged with two national security offences involving alleged spying for an unnamed foreign power.

Teddy Young, 24, a serving member of the Royal Navy, has been charged with two offences under the National Security Act 2023 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London. He was arrested at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday and taken into police custody in London.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges on Wednesday. Young is accused of engaging in conduct in preparation for committing an offence of disclosing protected information, contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023, between 26 November 2024 and 21 May 2025.

He was also charged with obtaining, copying, recording or retaining protected information, intending the conduct to benefit a foreign power, knowing or having regard to other matters known to him ought reasonably to know was prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, contrary to section 1 of the National Security Act 2023. The same dates apply to this second charge.

The identity of the alleged foreign power has not been disclosed by police. All four outlets confirm that the arrest and charges are not connected to the recent investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces. 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."

Flanagan added that it is important that further speculation on the case is avoided to allow the case to progress through the courts without the justice process being impeded.

Young has been remanded in police custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London on Thursday, 8 October.

Royal Navy member charged with spying for foreign power
Image: The i Paper

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How it is being reported

In this story: Teddy Young · Royal Navy · Counter Terrorism Policing London · Ministry of Defence · Metropolitan Police · Crown Prosecution Service · Westminster Magistrates' Court · Bedfordshire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem