UK police charge Royal Navy member accused of working with foreign power

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkA Merlin helicopter from the British Royal Navy's 814 Naval Air Squadron takes part in monitoring operations with HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans at an unknown location [UK MOD Crown copyright/Royal Navy/Handout via Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and ReutersPublished On 8 Oct 20268 Oct 2026Police in the United Kingdom say they have arrested and charged a member of the Royal Navy accused of working with an unnamed foreign power after an investigation by counterterrorism police.Teddy Young, 24, was charged with two offences under the National Security Act for allegedly obtaining protected information and preparing to transfer it for the benefit of a foreign power.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4What we know about RAF Fairford ‘bomb plot’list 2 of 4UK says Iran may be linked to alleged RAF Fairford plot, drawing deniallist 3 of 4Video: Watch the moment US bombers leave UK airbase RAF Fairfordlist 4 of 4US pulls bombers from UK base: Is Iran manoeuvring Trump’s war plans?end of listIn a statement, authorities alleged that between November 2024 and May 2025, Young “obtained, copied, recorded or retained protected information, intending the conduct to benefit a foreign power… contrary to section 1 of the National Security Act 2023″.Young is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday. “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,” she added.UK media reported that the officer was arrested at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday before he was taken into custody in London.The police clarified that the case is not related to the ongoing investigation into an incident at the RAF Fairford airbase.