Counter-terrorism operation in Britain: Three men charged with aiding Hong Kong intelligence service

Three men have been charged under the National Security Act with allegedly assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference, the Metropolitan police said.

Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, of Staines-upon-Thames, Matthew Trickett, 37, of Maidenhead, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, of Hackney, east London, have each been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.

They have also each been charged with foreign interference, contrary to section 13(2) and (7) of the act.

Eight men and a woman were arrested by officers on 1 May in the Yorkshire area, before a man was arrested in London and another man was arrested in the Yorkshire area the following day, the Guardian reports.

The seven men and one woman who were not charged were released from custody.

Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of counter-terrorism command, said: “While these offences are concerning, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them”.