Briton charged under new spy law

ABRITISH man is accused of orchestrating arson attacks on Ukrainian-linked businesses in London on behalf of the proscribed terror organisation the Wagner Group.

Dylan Earl has been charged under the National Security Act 2023 – the first case to involve alleged offences under the new spy laws.

The 20-year-old is accused of being in contact with a handler in the Wagner Group before carrying out reconnaissance of targets “in relation to activity intended to benefit Russia”.

Court documents show Earl is accused of recruiting and paying others to carry out an arson attack at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London – Ukrainian-linked businesses owned by “Oddisey” and “Meest UK”.

The March 20 blaze required 60 firefighters to bring it under control, and the alleged target of the fire is labelled as “Mr X” in the charges.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker ordered that reporting restrictions be lifted on the case on Friday, which coincided with two co-defendants of Earl appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

One of the co-defendants, Jake Reeves, is accused of accepting cash, knowing it was from a foreign intelligence service.

The 22-year-old was remanded into custody and appeared alongside fellow 22-year-old Dmitrijus Paulauska, who is charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts.

Two other defendants, 60-yearold Paul English and 21-year-old Nii Mensah, have also been charged with aggravated arson.

All five men are due to appear at the Old Bailey for a further hearing on May 10.

The defendants are yet to enter pleas to the charges.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us. Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged, anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

“We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across counter terrorism policing to meet these.

“While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.

“This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”

The Wagner Group is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, whose former leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last summer. It was proscribed as a terrorist group in September last year.”