- Australian Federal Police accidentally live streamed a secret meeting where they were planning the arrest of a suspected North Korean agent.
- The live stream occurred on Periscope two days before the operation occurred.
- A Sydney man was subsequently arrested and being charged under weapons of mass destruction laws.
The Australian Federal Police accidentally live streamed a secret meeting over plans to arrest an alleged North Korean agent on Twitter’s Periscope platform just days before the operation took place.
The sting involved the arrest of a 59-year-old Sydney man on Sunday and the video could have tipped off the suspect to his impending arrest.
South Korean-born Chan Han Choi has since been charged. Police allege he attempted to arrange the sale of North Korean missile components, in breach of weapons of mass destruction criminal laws and international sanctions.
Four days before he was arrested, a minute-long discussion was posted online in which AFP revealed the timing of the arrest, and whether the prime minister would be notified.
The West Australian reports the recording also included an officer suggesting the AFP would not be “going in all guns blazing”, adding “it’s only half-a-dozen people and a forensic van”.
The video remained live until its media team was alerted to its existence by The West Australian, which reports around 40 people had already heard it before it was deleted.
As a result of the blunder, the matter has been referred to the AFP’s Security area for review.
The man is expected to appear in court next week.
More here.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Trump's family church explains why he refuses to accept failure