UK Police Arrest Three On Suspicion Of Helping Russian Spy Services
British police arrested on Thursday three people suspected of assisting a foreign intelligence service, saying the investigation related to Russia, the latest allegation of spying activities on behalf of Moscow in Britain.
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Moscow has rejected these allegations. (Representational)
LONDON:
Three individuals were taken into custody by British authorities on Thursday under suspicion of aiding a foreign intelligence agency, with officials confirming the investigation is connected to Russia, marking another instance of alleged Moscow-linked espionage activities on British soil.
The suspects—two males aged 41 and 46, and one 35-year-old female—were apprehended in Essex, located east of London, and charged with violations under the National Security Act, legislation implemented two years ago to enhance powers against threats from foreign states.
"Our recent national security casework reveals a growing trend of what we would term as 'proxies' being enlisted by foreign intelligence services," stated Commander Dominic Murphy, who heads the Counter Terrorism Command of London's police force.
British officials have repeatedly implicated Russia or its agents in espionage plots and sabotage operations across Britain and Europe, with the head of British domestic intelligence claiming Russian operatives were attempting to create "mayhem".
The Kremlin has consistently denied these claims, suggesting that British authorities routinely blame Russia for any "bad" occurrences within the United Kingdom.
In July, three individuals were convicted of an arson attack targeting Ukraine-associated businesses in London, which British officials attributed to orders from Russia's Wagner mercenary organization, while two others admitted participation in the incident.
This followed the March conviction of a Bulgarian group identified as operating a spy network on behalf of the Kremlin.
"Two young British citizens await sentencing after being recruited by the Wagner Group—essentially an extension of the Russian state—to conduct arson at a Ukrainian-linked warehouse," Murphy noted.
"They potentially face extensive prison terms, although I should clarify that today's arrests are completely unrelated to that particular investigation."