UK police arrest three people on suspicion of spying for Russia

The operation comes as tensions between London and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict escalate, with authorities saying Moscow is carrying out an increasingly large-scale operation of espionage, sabotage and cyber-interference against the UK. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Thursday (October 23) that the three men, aged 44, 45 and 48, were arrested in west and central London under the National Security Act 2023. They are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence agency, which is believed to be Russian. Police said searches were being carried out at their addresses and at a further location following their arrests. London's Counter Terrorism Unit is leading the investigation. "We are seeing an increasing number of so-called 'proxy' individuals being employed by foreign intelligence agencies," said Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Unit. These arrests are part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt any activity.”

The arrests come as six men have been sentenced for a series of arson attacks on Ukrainian-linked businesses in east London. The investigation found the attacks were ordered by the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group.

The mastermind behind the case, Dylan Earle, was the first person to be convicted under the National Security Act, which allows prosecutors to prosecute suspects of espionage in a wider range of circumstances.

Last week, Ken McCallum, the head of the UK’s domestic intelligence agency MI5, accused Russia of “deliberately causing chaos and destruction. Over the past year, we and the police have thwarted a series of surveillance schemes targeting individuals deemed “enemies” by the Russian leadership.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement in such sabotage. The British government repeatedly blames Russia for any 'bad' events that happen in the UK, it said.

Source: Al Jazeera