Man arrested over unsolicited messages sent to MPs and others in Westminster honeytrap scandal

A man has been arrested as part of the police investigation into the Westminster honeytrap scandal.

The Metropolitan Police said they arrested a man in Islington, north London, on Wednesday on suspicion of harassment and offences under the Online Safety Act.

Multiple victims were informed by the police shortly afterwards.

Earlier this year, at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited, flirtatious WhatsApp messages from people calling themselves “Charlie” or “Abi”, Scotland Yard said.

Explicit images were exchanged in some instances.

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A Met Police spokesman said: “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.”

The man who has been arrested is understood to be in his mid-20s.

Conservative Dr Luke Evans first reported the “honeytrap”, revealing he was approached in March by two different numbers on WhatsApp “who purported to know me”.

He said he was the victim of cyber flashing and malicious communications “and blew the whistle by reporting it to the police and the parliamentary authorities as soon as this happened”.

Then-senior Conservative William Wragg stepped down from the party when the scandal erupted in April after he admitted sharing other politicians’ personal numbers to someone he met on a dating app who threatened to release compromising information and pictures he had sent them.