iStockA serving member of the UK armed forces has been charged under the Official Secrets Act.
Thomas Newsome was arrested after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
The 36-year-old was charged on Friday with offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1989, Scotland Yard said.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.
The Metropolitan Police said Newsome was initially arrested on Tuesday and detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
A warrant of further detention was obtained on Thursday, allowing police to detain him until Saturday.
The Crown Prosecution Service alleges on April 17 Newsome, without lawful authority “made a damaging disclosure of information relating to defence” which was in his possession “by virtue of his position”.
On April 18, the CPS 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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