Three arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia in Essex

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia in Essex as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences. A 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested at an address in Grays, Essex. A 46-year-old man was arrested at a separate address, also in the Grays area of Essex. All three were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act (NSA), 2023, and they were taken to a police station in London. The country to which the allegations relate is Russia, the Met Police said.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the counter terrorism command, said that through recent national security casework, there is an increasing number of proxies being recruited by foreign intelligence services. He noted that two young British men are awaiting sentencing after they were recruited by the Wagner Group — effectively the Russian state — to carry out an arson at a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. They are facing potentially lengthy custodial sentences, though today's arrests are not connected to that investigation. He warned that anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state in the UK should think again. This kind of activity will be investigated and anyone involved can expect to be prosecuted, with potentially very serious consequences for those convicted.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.