Security guard at British Embassy in Berlin charged with spying for Russia

David Smith faces nine charges relating to the Official Secrets Act

A security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin, pictured, has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A worker at the British Embassy in Berlin has been extradited from Germany to the UK to face charges of spying for Russia.

David Ballantyne Smith, 57, is a British citizen who was employed as a security guard and lived in Potsdam, Germany.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

He faces nine charges relating to the collection and communication of information useful to the Russian state.

The alleged offences were committed between October 2020 and August 2021.

Nick Price, Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the Crown Prosecution Service, 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.”

The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.