Three arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia, Met says

The Metropolitan Police said three people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. A 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested at an address in Grays, Essex, and a 46-year-old man was arrested at a separate address in the same area. All three were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act (NSA) 2023, and were taken to a police station in London, the Met said.

Officers conducted searches at the two Essex addresses, and all three have since been released on police bail with conditions while the investigation continues. The Met identified the country connected to the allegations as Russia.

Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said the force had seen an increasing number of people in the UK being recruited by foreign intelligence services. He added: "Anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state here in the UK should think again. This kind of activity will be investigated and anyone found to be involved can expect to be prosecuted and there are potentially very serious consequences for those who are convicted."

The Met said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional updates will be published as they become available.