British security guard, 57, is extradited from Germany and charged under the Official Secrets Act
British ‘spy’ security guard, 57, accused of passing secrets to Russian is extradited from Germany to London and charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act
David Smith, 57, had worked as a security guard at the British Embassy in BerlinSmith has been charged with a total of nine offences under Official Secrets ActHe is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, April 7
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A British security guard has been extradited from Germany to London and charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act.
David Smith, 57, is suspected of spying for Russia and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The alleged offences are said to have been committed between October 2020 and August last year, when Smith was working at the British Embassy in Berlin.
The nine charges relate to the collection and communication of information useful to the Russian state, according to the Metropolitan Police.
A statement added: ‘A man is due in court charged with Official Secrets Act offences, following an investigation that is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
‘David Ballantyne Smith, 57, a British national who was living in Potsdam, Germany, is charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act 1911.
David Smith (pictured) has been extradited from Germany to London and charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act relating to passing information to a foreign state
‘Smith, who was employed as a security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin, was extradited back to the UK from Germany on Wednesday following his arrest by German police on 10 August 2021.’
The Crown Prosecution Service said that one of the charges faced by David Smith relates to allegations he passed information to a person he believed was a representative of the Russian state.
Nick Price, Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the CPS, said: ‘David Smith has been charged with nine offences contrary to the Official Secrets Act.
‘He is accused of seven offences of collecting information with the intent of sending it to the Russian authorities, one of attempting communication and one of providing information to a person he believed was a member of the Russian authorities.
‘After reviewing the case and authorising charges, we obtained an extradition warrant and worked closely with our German counterparts in order to bring Mr Smith back to the UK.’
