A possible Russian spy was nabbed at a UK airport under suspicion of violating the Official Secrets Act. The man, in his forties, remains in custody while MI5 and local police continue their investigation.
According to the BBC, a man in his forties was arrested by MI5 and the Metropolitan Police at Gatwick Airport. The man is suspected of being a Russian spy and remains detained under possible violation of the Official Secrets Act, Section One.
Little details are known about the event, however, Section One of the Official Secrets Act describes various acts that can be considered spying, resulting in serious criminal offenses.
- “(a) approaches, [inspects, passes over] or is in the neighbourhood of, or enters any prohibited place within the meaning of this Act; or
- (b) makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy; or
- (c) obtains, [collects, records, or publishes,] or communicates to any other person [any secret official code word, or pass word, or] any sketch, plan, model, article, or note, or other document or information which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy” – Official Secrets Act
As tensions between the UK and Russia continue to deteriorate the ongoing war in Ukraine remains top of mind. For its part, Russia has even banned several UK members of government or other officials from entering Russia.
The UK agency MI5, reportedly involved the investigation and arrest of the yet unnamed suspect, is the UK’s spy service and charged with counter-terrorism and espionage missions.
