Two men accused of spying for China in the UK are released on bail following a court appearance in London.

Two men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, have been charged with spying for China in the U.K. Parliament, raising concerns about espionage activities in London. The former researcher and the academic were granted bail after their initial court appearance in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Cash, who worked as a parliamentary researcher for senior lawmakers from the Conservative Party, was ordered not to enter Parliament or contact members of the House of Commons. His colleagues included Alicia Kearns, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Tom Tugendhat, the security minister. Berry, an academic based in Oxfordshire who has taught in China since 2015, was also charged with violating the Official Secrets Act.

The Chinese Embassy has denied the allegations, calling them “completely fabricated” and “malicious slander.” This incident comes on the heels of three arrests in Germany for suspected spying for China, highlighting the global concern over Beijing’s covert activities.

British intelligence authorities have been increasingly vocal about the threat of Chinese espionage in recent years. The defendants are set to appear at the Central Criminal Court on May 10 for a preliminary hearing. The case underscores the growing tensions between Western countries and China over espionage and national security issues.