One of three men arrested in a China espionage investigation stood for North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner in 2016
A man with north Wales connections is among three people arrested by Metropolitan Police counter terrorism officers on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, in an investigation the Met says relates to China.
The three men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.
All three have been released on bail to a date in May.
The 68-year-old was arrested at an address in Powys, Wales.
The 43-year-old was arrested in Pontyclun, Wales.
The 39-year-old was arrested at an address in London.
Searches were carried out at the addresses where the arrests took place and at three further addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.
The Metropolitan Police did not name those arrested.
Joani Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, subsequently identified her husband David Taylor as one of those arrested, in a statement given to Sky News.
Reid said: “I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.”
“I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.”
“I am not part of my husband’s business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.”
Taylor, originally from Ruthin in Denbighshire, stood as a candidate in the 2016 North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner election on a platform he described as a war on wasters.
He was defeated by Arfon Jones, who won the election.
Taylor has previously worked as a special adviser to Peter Hain during Hain’s time as Welsh Secretary.
It is not known which of the three arrested men Taylor is.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.”
“Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.”
The investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
No charges have been brought and all three men remain on bail.
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