British Police Arrest 3 Russian Spies

UNSPLASH/Tadas Petrokas ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - British police have arrested three people suspected of assisting foreign intelligence agencies. The investigation is related to Russia, the alleged latest case related to spying activities on behalf of Moscow in the UK.

The three, two men aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman, were arrested in Essex, east of London, on charges of violating the National Security Act, which was imposed two years ago to give new powers in dealing with threats from foreign countries.

"Through our recent national security case investigation, we see more and more people who we call 'proxies' recruited by foreign intelligence agencies," said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the London Police Anti-terrorism Command.

London has repeatedly accused Russia or its agents of being behind plans for spying and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe, with Britain's domestic spy chief saying Russian agents were trying to cause "chaotic".

The Kremlin has denied the allegations, saying the British government has repeatedly blamed Russia for all the "bad" things that have happened in Britain.

In July, three men were found guilty of arson attacks on a number of property linked to Ukraine in London.

The attack, according to British officials, was ordered by a group of Russian Wagner mercenaries. Two others acknowledged their involvement in the attack.

This follows the verdict handed down in March against a group of Bulgarians for being part of a spy unit run on behalf of the Kremlin.

"Two British youths are waiting for a verdict after they are recruited by the Wagner Group, which is actually a Russian country to burn in a warehouse linked to Ukraine," Murphy said.

"They face the possibility of a long prison sentence, although, it needs to be clarified, today's arrest is not at all related to the investigation," he continued.