Britain arrests trio of suspected Russian saboteurs | Espionage News

British police arrest three over alleged Russia-linked spying, as Lithuania and Latvia uncover sabotage plots.

British police have arrested three individuals suspected of operating sabotage and espionage operations for Russia.

The detentions on Thursday east of London mark the newest in a string of espionage allegations that Moscow has been recruiting individuals to interact in assaults and spying throughout Europe.

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The suspects – two males aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old lady – have been detained in Essex on suspicion of aiding a international intelligence service, a cost underneath the Nationwide Safety Act, launched in 2023 to offer broader powers towards international state threats.

Police mentioned the arrests adopted an investigation into suspected collaboration with Russian intelligence.

Head of London’s Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy, mentioned the UK had seen “an rising variety of who we’d describe as ‘proxies’ being recruited by international intelligence providers”.

Europe-wide menace

Since its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russia has recurrently been accused of operating covert intelligence operations throughout Europe.

The detentions within the UK got here a day after Lithuania and Latvia reported uncovering separate Moscow-linked operations.

Lithuanian prosecutors mentioned they’d damaged up a community that deliberate arson and explosive assaults in a number of European Union states.

Latvia’s safety service introduced the detention of a person suspected of passing army intelligence to Russia.

Britain has repeatedly accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage and spy operations on its soil and past.

The Kremlin has rejected these allegations, accusing the UK of blaming Moscow for “something dangerous that occurs”.

Nevertheless, the newest arrests comply with a number of current convictions.

In July, three males have been discovered responsible of setting hearth to Ukraine-linked companies in London, an assault British officers mentioned had been ordered by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group. Earlier this yr, 5 Bulgarians have been convicted of spying for the Kremlin.

Particular supply

Lithuanian prosecutors mentioned on Wednesday that suspects had shipped parcels containing do-it-yourself incendiary gadgets disguised inside vibrating cushions and cosmetics tubes.

The gadgets have been despatched through courier providers to Britain and Poland in July 2024, hidden amongst regular cargo.

One package deal caught hearth at a DHL logistics hub in Leipzig earlier than it might be flown to the UK, whereas one other ignited at a warehouse in Birmingham.

Two different shipments headed for Poland additionally caught hearth, although one didn’t detonate. Investigators mentioned the parcels contained thermite, a extremely flammable industrial compound.

Authorities in Vilnius mentioned two of these detained have been linked to an arson assault on an IKEA retailer in Could 2024. A complete of 15 suspects from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine are underneath investigation, with worldwide arrest warrants issued for 3.

Latvia’s safety service individually reported detaining a person accused of gathering intelligence on NATO troops and army infrastructure within the nation for Russia.