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| Public warning after Russian TV crew sparks military alert | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The defence secretary has called on the public to report suspicious activity near military sites after a Russian TV crew prompted an alert at an Army base. | The defence secretary has called on the public to report suspicious activity near military sites after a Russian TV crew prompted an alert at an Army base. |
| Gavin Williamson issued the warning after Timur Siraziev, of Channel One, was seen outside 77 Brigade's Berkshire base, the Mail on Sunday reported. | Gavin Williamson issued the warning after Timur Siraziev, of Channel One, was seen outside 77 Brigade's Berkshire base, the Mail on Sunday reported. |
| The unit works in social media and psychological operations. | The unit works in social media and psychological operations. |
| An Army source said: "Timur Siraziev's suspicious behaviour was monitored by the base's security systems." | An Army source said: "Timur Siraziev's suspicious behaviour was monitored by the base's security systems." |
| According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Siraziev was seen with a cameraman repeatedly passing the barracks in Hermitage, Berkshire on the afternoon of 21 November. | |
| Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "We take the security of our bases and personnel incredibly seriously. | |
| "If a member of the public sees anyone acting suspiciously in or around a military base it should be reported to the police as a matter of urgency." | |
| With UK-Russian relations frosty in the wake of the Salisbury Novichok poisoning, GCHQ chief Jeremy Fleming warned earlier this year that Moscow posed a "real" and "active" threat to the international community. | |
| Last month, the head of the British army, Gen Mark Carleton-Smith, described Russia as a "far greater threat" to UK security that the Islamic State group. | |
| Mr Siraziev is listed on the Russian Embassy's website as Channel One's bureau chief. | |
| When set up in 2015, 77 Brigade was touted as a unit that would help the UK to fight wars in the "information age" by helping to win hearts and minds. | |
| It includes both regular troops and reservists. | |
| Head of the Army at the time, Gen Sir Nick Carter, said the move was about trying to operate "smarter". |