UK Royal Navy Sailor Charged Under National Security Act for Plan To Share Secrets With Foreign Power
A 24-year-old serving member of the Royal Navy, Teddy Young, has been charged under the UK National Security Act for allegedly obtaining protected information to benefit an unnamed foreign power. Arrested in Bedfordshire by counterterrorism detectives, Young faces two charges and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court, police confirmed Thursday.
British police on Thursday said they had charged a member of the Royal Navy with offences under the National Security Act for allegedly obtaining protected information and preparing to disclose it to benefit a foreign power. Teddy Young, 24, has been charged with two offences and is due to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Thursday. Police did not name the foreign power to which the charges relate.
Young was arrested at his home address in Bedfordshire on Tuesday by counterterrorism detectives and subsequently transported to a London police station for questioning, Reuters reported. The charges were formally authorised on Wednesday by the Crown Prosecution Service following a targeted counter-espionage probe. RAF Fairford Base Threat Aimed To Kill US Troops and Destroy Military Aircraft, Says Official.
Counter-Terrorism Command Outlines Grave Allegations
"These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces," Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing 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".
According to investigators, the allegations span activity between November 2024 and May 2025, during which the serviceman allegedly collected and held sensitive defence materials prejudicial to the safety and interests of the United Kingdom. US Evacuates Dozen B-1 Bombers From UK’s RAF Fairford Airbase Over Suspected Iranian Threat.
Police Clarify Independence From Fairford Airbase Probe
Police said the charges were not connected to the recent investigation into an incident at the RAF Fairford airbase, which US officials have said involved a potential Iranian drone attack.
The legal action marks one of the high-profile enforcement cases brought under Britain's modernized National Security Act 2023, legislation passed to equip authorities and intelligence agencies with expanded powers to counter state-backed espionage and hostile foreign interference.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2026 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
