A British 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”.
After news emerged of the charge, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it had summoned Russia’s ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin.
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-year-old 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.”
After summoning the Russian ambassador, an FCDO spokesperson said: “The UK remains deeply concerned by allegations of Russian orchestrated malign activity on UK soil, as well as the wider reported pattern of behaviour we are witnessing on the part of the Russian Federation to sponsor such activity on the territory of other, sovereign states.
“We call for an immediate cessation of this activity and we will continue to work with our allies to deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats that emanate from Russia.”
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 after the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee warned that ministers were not doing enough to counter the threat the private military firm posed.
Mr Prigozhin and his troops staged a short-lived coup against the authorities in Moscow in June last year.
Tom Tugendhat said the charges against Earl and Reeves demonstrated the value of the National Security Act 2023.
The security minister said: “The first charges under the National Security Act 2023, as announced by the CPS, demonstrate its value in protecting the UK from those who threaten our way of life.
“We will continue to work with partners to crack down on threats from Russia and anyone facilitating hostile activities.”
The act was introduced to target those working for hostile states within the UK.
The charges faced by all five men are as follows:
Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, is charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, preparatory conduct to an act endangering life or a person or an act creating a serious risk to the health and safety of the public in the United Kingdom contrary to section 18 National Security Act 2023, and assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 National Security Act 2023;
Reeves, of Croydon, south London, is accused of aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the National Security Act 2023;
English, of Roehampton, south-west London, and Mensah, of Thornton Heath, south London, are both charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971;
Paulauska, of Croydon, is accused of having information about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000.