United Kingdom: Royal Navy sailor charged with espionage

A Royal Navy sailor was arrested and charged with spying for a foreign power, British police announced Thursday, October 8, without specifying which country it was. Teddy Young, 24, is accused of having “obtained, copied, recorded or retained protected information, with the intention of benefiting a foreign power from these acts”, between November 2024 and May 2025, London police said in a press release.

Espionage for the benefit of Moscow

He was arrested on Tuesday by counter-terrorism police at his home in Bedfordshire, central England, and then taken into custody in London. According to The Times newspaper and the Sky News channel, Teddy Young, who worked in intelligence within the Royal Navy, is suspected of having spied for the benefit of Russia. Teddy Young, who had already been arrested last year, was to be presented to court on Thursday.

“These are extremely serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces,” said Helen Flanagan, head of London's counter-terrorism police. “We have worked closely with colleagues within the Ministry of Defense to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate any potential risks associated with this matter,” she added in a statement.

Police said there was no link between this investigation and that into the incident which occurred at the end of September near the Fairford military base, used by the United States in its war against Iran. Seven suspects were arrested in this case on suspicion of “preparing a terrorist act”.