The three men are accused of assisting China’s foreign intelligence service.
LONDON — Three men were arrested in London and Wales Wednesday on suspicion of assisting the Chinese foreign intelligence service.
Counter-terrorism police arrested a 39-year-old man in London, and a 68-year-old man and 43-year-old man in Wales, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
According to BBC and Guardian reports, one of the men arrested is the partner of a Labour MP.
“Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this,” the Met’s London counter-terror lead Helen Flanagan said.
“Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support,” she added.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons that the arrests related to foreign interference targeting U.K. democracy.
British officials have lodged a diplomatic complaint with Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about the allegations and raised “strong concerns,” he said.
“If there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with U.K. sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account,” he said.
This developing story is being updated.