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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Two British men charged with helping Russian intelligence | Two British men charged with helping Russian intelligence |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The national security investigation started after a suspected arson attack at a London warehouse | The national security investigation started after a suspected arson attack at a London warehouse |
| Two British men have been charged with helping Russian intelligence services after a suspected arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business in London. | Two British men have been charged with helping Russian intelligence services after a suspected arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business in London. |
| Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, and Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon, were investigated following a fire at a warehouse in east London in March. | Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, and Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon, were investigated following a fire at a warehouse in east London in March. |
| Three other suspects linked to the fire have been held on other charges. | Three other suspects linked to the fire have been held on other charges. |
| The investigation is being led by Met Police counter-terror officers. | The investigation is being led by Met Police counter-terror officers. |
| Mr Earl is accused of planning to target the business, as well as attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, undertaking fraudulent activity and arson. | Mr Earl is accused of planning to target the business, as well as attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, undertaking fraudulent activity and arson. |
| Mr Reeves is accused of accepting money knowing that it was from a foreign intelligence service. | Mr Reeves is accused of accepting money knowing that it was from a foreign intelligence service. |
| The prosecution case is that the intelligence service involved was the Wagner private military group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin before he died when his plane exploded last year. | |
| The investigation is related to a large fire which broke out on an industrial estate on Staffa Road in Leyton in March, which the prosecution said was started using an accelerant such as petrol. | The investigation is related to a large fire which broke out on an industrial estate on Staffa Road in Leyton in March, which the prosecution said was started using an accelerant such as petrol. |
| The charges do not specify who owns the businesses that were targeted, but Companies House records show they are two parcel delivery services: Oddisey and Meest UK. | The charges do not specify who owns the businesses that were targeted, but Companies House records show they are two parcel delivery services: Oddisey and Meest UK. |
| They are owned by Mykhaylo Prykhodko, also known as Mikhail Boikov, and his wife Jelena Boikova, who both live in London. | They are owned by Mykhaylo Prykhodko, also known as Mikhail Boikov, and his wife Jelena Boikova, who both live in London. |
| Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said of Mr Earl: "Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024." | Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said of Mr Earl: "Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024." |
| He said Mr Earl is "alleged to have engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state". | He said Mr Earl is "alleged to have engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state". |
| Paul English - who is not charged with a national security offence - is accused of aggravated arson | Paul English - who is not charged with a national security offence - is accused of aggravated arson |
| The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has summoned the Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin following the allegations. | The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has summoned the Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin following the allegations. |
| An FCDO spokesperson said the UK remains "deeply concerned by allegations of Russian-orchestrated malign activity on UK soil". | An FCDO spokesperson said the UK remains "deeply concerned by allegations of Russian-orchestrated malign activity on UK soil". |
| "We will continue to work with our allies to deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats that emanate from Russia," they added. | "We will continue to work with our allies to deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats that emanate from Russia," they added. |
| Mr Earl and Mr Reeves are the first people to be charged under a new law designed to update and modernise the offences of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference. | Mr Earl and Mr Reeves are the first people to be charged under a new law designed to update and modernise the offences of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference. |
| At the time it was passed, the government said it was designed to strengthen the UK's defences against hostile activity by states "targeting the UK's democracy, economy, and values." | At the time it was passed, the government said it was designed to strengthen the UK's defences against hostile activity by states "targeting the UK's democracy, economy, and values." |
| The full charges Mr Earl faces are: | The full charges Mr Earl faces are: |
| Preparing an act that endangered the life of a person or created a serious risk to the safety of the public contrary to Section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 | Preparing an act that endangered the life of a person or created a serious risk to the safety of the public contrary to Section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 |
| Assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 | Assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 |
| Aggravated arson | Aggravated arson |
| The full charges Mr Reeves faces are: | The full charges Mr Reeves faces are: |
| Obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17 of the National Security Act 2023 | Obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17 of the National Security Act 2023 |
| Aggravated arson | Aggravated arson |
| Mr Earl appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week, but for legal reasons BBC News has not been able to report this until today. | Mr Earl appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week, but for legal reasons BBC News has not been able to report this until today. |
| The pair are accused of taking part in the plan along with three other men. The three others were arrested as part of the investigation but have not been charged under the national security law. | The pair are accused of taking part in the plan along with three other men. The three others were arrested as part of the investigation but have not been charged under the national security law. |
| Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, was charged having information about terrorist acts, an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 | Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, was charged having information about terrorist acts, an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 |
| Nii Mensah, 21, from Thornton Heath in South London, has been charged with aggravated arson | Nii Mensah, 21, from Thornton Heath in South London, has been charged with aggravated arson |
| Paul English, 60, from Roehampton in South West London, has been charged with aggravated arson | Paul English, 60, from Roehampton in South West London, has been charged with aggravated arson |
| All five are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 10 May. | All five are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 10 May. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia | Russia |
| Metropolitan Police Service | Metropolitan Police Service |
| London | London |
| Leyton | Leyton |