Three men arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for China

Three men have been arrested in London and Wales on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services in the UK, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act, the force said in a statement.

There is no "imminent or direct threat to the public", the Met added.

The partner of a sitting Labour MP is among three people arrested, the BBC understands.

Officers carried out searches at properties where the three men were arrested. All three men are being held in custody, the force added.

As part of the investigation, searches were aso carried out at three locations in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the force had seen a "significant increase" in national security casework in recent years, but officers were working to "disrupt malign activity where we suspect it".

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