Man charged in Britain with assisting foreign intelligence
In Swindon, United Kingdom, 31-year-old Joshua Kemmidge has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and intending to commit or prepare an act of sabotage. The investigation is being led by the London counter-terrorism police unit.
Arrest and charges
As The Guardian reports, Kemmidge was arrested on September 4 at an address in Swindon. Officers from the London counter-terrorism unit were assisted by Wiltshire Police. Law enforcement officers also searched another address in the town.
The following day, the man was rearrested and detained, after which he was charged under the National Security Act.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Police account and court
The Metropolitan Police said the case is linked to Kemmidge's alleged contacts with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps. According to police, this group is controlled by the military intelligence of the Russian Federation, an aggressor state; it has also previously been accused of sabotage against Britain and its allies.
The National Security Act was introduced in 2023 to strengthen Britain's protection against threats such as espionage, foreign interference or influence, and sabotage. Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said prosecutors had determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to be heard in court and that the prosecution was in the public interest. Kemmidge is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 10.
