Man arrested over Westminster honeytrap sexting scandal after unsolicited messages sent to MPs
26 June 2024, 09:37 | Updated: 26 June 2024, 15:52
A man has been arrested in connection with the Westminster honeytrap sexting scandal.
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The man, aged in his mid-twenties, was arrested on suspicion of harassment and offences under the Online Safety Act in London in Islington on Wednesday.
It comes after an investigation was launched following a report of unsolicited messages being sent to MPs and others with links to Parliament earlier in the year.
Former MP William Wragg resigned the Tory whip after revealing that he handed over the phone numbers of fellow MPs to a man on a dating app.
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He said he was “scared” that the man “had compromising things on me” as he had previously shared intimate pictures of himself.
The unknown scammer is said to have used the aliases "Charlie" and "Abi" while sending flirtatious messages to attempt to coax MPs and other figures in political circles into sending explicit pictures.
Mr Wragg resigned from his role leading the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and as vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee.
Read more: Tory MP William Wragg resigns Conservative whip after being caught in honeytrap sexting scandal
Read more: Times journalist says he was target of Westminster honeytrap plot like Tory MP William Wragg
Fellow Tory Dr Luke Evans called for a full review of Parliament's system of investigating incidents reported by MPs after he was also targeted.
A statement from the Met read: "On Wednesday, 26 June, police executed a warrant at an address in Islington.
"A man was arrested on suspicion of harassment and committing offences under the Online Safety Act. He was taken into custody where he remains.
"The arrest relates to an investigation being carried out by the Met’s Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team following reports of unsolicited messages sent to MPs and others.
"The investigation remains ongoing."
