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| UK diplomats stopped over 'spy' claims | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two British diplomats have been caught illegally filming military aircraft near an airfield in North Ossetia, Russian state TV has claimed. | Two British diplomats have been caught illegally filming military aircraft near an airfield in North Ossetia, Russian state TV has claimed. |
| Rossiya 1 said defence attache Carl Scott and assistant naval attache Ryan Coatalen-Hodgson from the Moscow embassy were spying near Mozdok base. | Rossiya 1 said defence attache Carl Scott and assistant naval attache Ryan Coatalen-Hodgson from the Moscow embassy were spying near Mozdok base. |
| The Foreign Office confirmed that two British men were stopped. | The Foreign Office confirmed that two British men were stopped. |
| Russian TV claimed an American man was also detained while taking photos at a military airfield in the Moscow region. | Russian TV claimed an American man was also detained while taking photos at a military airfield in the Moscow region. |
| A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "It is routine for defence attaches to travel around their host countries in the course of their diplomatic duties. This is no different in Russia. | A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "It is routine for defence attaches to travel around their host countries in the course of their diplomatic duties. This is no different in Russia. |
| "The defence attaches from the British Embassy in Moscow submitted to all relevant checks requested by the Russian authorities." | "The defence attaches from the British Embassy in Moscow submitted to all relevant checks requested by the Russian authorities." |
| The TV report follows Russia's announcement that it was withdrawing most of its forces from Syria, where it has been carrying out air strikes. | The TV report follows Russia's announcement that it was withdrawing most of its forces from Syria, where it has been carrying out air strikes. |
| 'Car escape' | 'Car escape' |
| The report on the Russian state TV channel on Tuesday evening said three "spies conducting surveillance of air bases in North Ossetia and Moscow Region have been detained". | The report on the Russian state TV channel on Tuesday evening said three "spies conducting surveillance of air bases in North Ossetia and Moscow Region have been detained". |
| It claimed that one "British general tried to escape in a car with diplomatic number plates" and suggested that the diplomats could be expelled. | It claimed that one "British general tried to escape in a car with diplomatic number plates" and suggested that the diplomats could be expelled. |
| The report showed the British men's car and their diplomatic cards. | The report showed the British men's car and their diplomatic cards. |
| Reporter Andrey Grigoryev said the men had no permission to be in the area, or to film. | Reporter Andrey Grigoryev said the men had no permission to be in the area, or to film. |
| He said Mr Scott had previously been detained by police four years ago in another region of the North Caucasus. | He said Mr Scott had previously been detained by police four years ago in another region of the North Caucasus. |
| He added that documents had been sent to the Russian foreign ministry for an official representation to be made to the British Embassy. | He added that documents had been sent to the Russian foreign ministry for an official representation to be made to the British Embassy. |
| The incident happened at the beginning of March, according to another TV station, state-controlled Channel One. | The incident happened at the beginning of March, according to another TV station, state-controlled Channel One. |
| The Foreign Office spokeswoman said the men had passed through several checkpoints on their journey but had not been prevented from travelling. | The Foreign Office spokeswoman said the men had passed through several checkpoints on their journey but had not been prevented from travelling. |
| 'Spying kit' claim | 'Spying kit' claim |
| Mr Grigoryev's report said the American man detained earlier this month near Chkalovskiy military airfield in the Moscow region was a plane-spotter but was in "possession of a full spying kit", including a radio scanner. | Mr Grigoryev's report said the American man detained earlier this month near Chkalovskiy military airfield in the Moscow region was a plane-spotter but was in "possession of a full spying kit", including a radio scanner. |
| The report claimed he had been photographing aircraft of the Rossiya air group used by state officials and Russian intelligence services. | The report claimed he had been photographing aircraft of the Rossiya air group used by state officials and Russian intelligence services. |
| It is not clear whether the American remains in custody or has been released. | It is not clear whether the American remains in custody or has been released. |