A serving member of the UK’s armed forces has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act.
Thomas Newsome, 36, according to Reuters, was charged on Friday with offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1989, Scotland Yard said.
Prosecutors allege he made a “damaging disclosure of information relating to defence” on 17 April.
The charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Mr Newsome has been remanded in custody and is to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The Met said he was initially arrested on Tuesday and detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
The Crown Prosecution Service alleges Mr Newsome, without lawful authority “made a damaging disclosure of information relating to defence” which was in his possession “by virtue of his position”.
On 18 April, it alleges he “had in his possession or under his control, by virtue of his position as such, documents which he failed to take such care of as to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of those documents as a person in his position may reasonably be expected to take”.
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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We can confirm the arrest of a serving member of the armed forces.
“This matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
