London — Shocking news emerged today as a 20-year-old British man was accused of orchestrating an arson scheme targeting a Ukrainian-affiliated site in London in support of the Russian government, according to prosecutors.
The Crown Prosecution Service stated, "Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024."
Legal documents reveal that the suspect, Dylan Earl, hailing from Leicestershire in central England, had ties to the banned terrorist organization the Wagner Group.
Earl stands accused of coordinating and financing an arson attack on two units within an industrial estate in Leyton, east London, on March 20. The incident necessitated the efforts of 60 firefighters to extinguish the flames. A photograph shared by the London Fire Brigade on social media depicted the aftermath, showcasing multiple storage or warehouse units damaged by the fire.
The plot's alleged target is known as "Mr X"
According to charges, the CPS, responsible for prosecutions in England and Wales, has stated that two other individuals, Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, have been charged with aggravated arson in connection to the case.
Additionally, Jake Reeves, 22, has been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service and aggravated arson.
The CPS also mentioned that Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, has been charged with possessing information about terrorist acts.
Statements from Officials
In response to the allegations, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed his concern, stating: "While we must let the judicial process run its course, I am deeply concerned by allegations of British nationals carrying out criminal activity on U.K. soil to benefit the Russian state."
He further added, "We will use the full weight of the criminal justice system to hold anyone found guilty of crimes linked to foreign interference to account," in a post on the social media platform X.
Dominic Murphy, the head of the Metropolitan Police in London's Counter Terrorism Command leading the investigation, commented: "This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us."
"The charges that have been authorized by the CPS are not only extremely serious, but it marks the first instance of utilizing the powers and legislation introduced under the National Security Act," a statement from authorities revealed.
Enacted in December of the previous year, the National Security Act 2023 was crafted to address "the threat of hostile activity from states targeting the U.K.'s democracy, economy, and values," as declared by the government during its introduction.
Scheduled to appear at the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey in London on May 10 are all five suspects.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Russia and the West, more than two years after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Just a week prior, German authorities announced the detention of two individuals believed to be spying for Russia, both of whom were described as German-Russian dual nationals. They are accused of conducting reconnaissance on potential targets for attacks in Germany, which included U.S. military installations within the country.
Relations between the United Kingdom and Russia have been strained for an extended period, particularly worsening in 2018 when two Russian operatives made an attempt on the life of former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the town of Salisbury, England. The high-profile assassination bid involved the use of the highly lethal nerve agent Novichok. Although the assassination failed, a local woman who came into contact with the nerve agent container tragically lost her life.
Before the charges were even filed, both of the men allegedly involved in the attack successfully escaped from Britain.
