British DNA workers accused of espionage

BIRMINGHAM, England, April 1 (UPI) -- Five employees of Britain's national DNA database agency have been suspended amid allegations they had engaged in industrial espionage.

The Mail on Sunday said the five Forensic Science Service workers are thought to have attempted to create their own database using copies of confidential data from the DNA service.

The FSS has since filed a High Court lawsuit against Athar Agha, Azim Akhtar, Zaheer Akhtar, Nisar Ahmed and Sultan Mahmood over their alleged actions.

Civil rights activist Shami Chakrabarti said the alleged theft from the database, which houses DNA samples from nearly 4 million people, was cause for concern.

"This is hugely significant and should make every law-abiding person seriously worried. People are looking after these databases who have less and less of a public-service ethic," Liberty director Chakrabarti said.

British officials say the database was "compromised," but the suspended employees have denied attempting to create a rival DNA database.