Man charged in connection with arson plot allegedly acted on behalf of Russian terror group
A British man accused of being a Russian spy, allegedly hired a group to burn a building, linked to Ukraine, to the ground, as Martha Fairlie reports
A British man is accused of masterminding an arson plot on a businesses in Leyton, east 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 legislation.
Four other men, Paul English, Nil Mensah, Jake Reeves and Dmitrijus Paulauska have also been charged in connection with the case, it can now be reported.
Earl is accused of undertaking fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service carrying out UK-related activities, prosecutors say.
Court documents show he is alleged to be connected to the proscribed terrorist group the Wagner Group.
The 20-year-old, from Leicestershire, is accused of organising and paying for an arson attack on two units on an industrial estate Leyton, east London on March 20.
He is alleged to have targeted businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation, 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.”
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