Britain has withdrawn its intelligence agents involved in ongoing operations from “hostile countries” because Russia and China gained access to classified data contained in files released by former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, according to the Sunday Times newspaper.
The MI6 spy agency has removed its agents from some countries, the newspaper wrote, citing unnamed officials in Prime Minister David Cameron's office, the Home Office and the security services.
Both Russia and China managed to decrypt documents containing details of intelligence that may allow the detection of British and American spies, the newspaper added, citing the same sources.
However, an official in Cameron's office told the Sunday Times that there was "no evidence that anyone was harmed.".
A spokeswoman for Cameron's office declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Representatives for Britain's intelligence agencies did not respond to requests for comment.
US authorities are seeking to put Snowden on trial for leaking classified documents. The whistleblower had fled the US and was eventually granted political asylum in Moscow in 2013.
Source: nooz
