Italian officer ‘caught selling secrets to Russia’

An Italian navy officer has been arrested after being caught in the act of handing secret documents to a Russian military official, police say.

The men were stopped by military police on suspicion of serious crimes relating to espionage and state security.

The Russian, who reportedly worked at the Russian embassy in Italy, is expected to be expelled.

Russia's ambassador Sergey Razov has been summoned to the foreign ministry in Rome.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said two Russian officials "involved in this very serious affair" were being expelled with immediate effect. The Kremlin said it hoped the "very positive and constructive nature of Russian-Italian relations will continue" but Russia's foreign ministry is expected to respond to the expulsions.