Police quiz man under secrets act

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A man in his 20s was being held in Yorkshire after he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police under both the Official Secrets Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

Police on Saturday confirmed the unnamed man was detained on Wednesday in Leeds.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: "At approx 8.10pm on November 7 officers from the Metropolitan Police arrested a man in his 20s at an address in Leeds under the Official Secrets Act. The man was further arrested under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

"Following an application to court for an extension of custody the man remains in custody at a Yorkshire police station."

A police spokeswoman said she could not comment on reports in the Yorkshire Post that the arrest involved allegations that a man was planning to pass military secrets to the Russians.

According to the paper the arrested man is 23, thought to be British, and recently moved to the Skipton area of North Yorkshire where police have been conducting searches of properties.

It said the alleged breach of security was related to a government rather than a commercial source.

The arrest came just two days after MI5 director general Jonathan Evans said it was a matter of "some disappointment" that MI5 was still having to deal with "unreconstructed attempts" at spying by countries like China and Russia.

He said: "They are resources which I would far rather devote to countering the threat from international terrorism - a threat to the whole international community, not just the UK."