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Spy ‘handed over secrets to al Qaeda'
Last updated at 15:22pm on 20.12.06A British spy appeared in court today accused of giving secrets to al Qaeda.
Daniel James, 44, appeared before City of Westminster magistrates over allegations that he divulged secret information to “the enemy”.
He has been charged under the Official Secrets Act. The court hearing was held in secret but security sources told the Standard that James was believed to be a military intelligence officer.
It is thought that a foreign spy network connected to al Qaeda had tried to “turn” him and recruit him to spy for it.
He was charged with passing the secret information last month.
James spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth before the charge was read to him by the clerk of the court.
It is alleged that on 2 November this year, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety of the state, he “communicated to another person information calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy”.
The charge is under section one (1) (C), of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
No further details about the allegations were released and members of the media were asked to leave the court as the hearing was continued behind closed doors.
