Counter-terrorism police have arrested three people in Essex on suspicion of spying for Russia, in a case highlighting growing concerns about foreign interference in the UK.
Two men, aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman were detained at separate addresses in Grays under section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which criminalises assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Scotland Yard confirmed the allegations relate specifically to Russia.
The trio were questioned at a London police station before being released on bail with strict conditions.
Officers also searched both Essex properties as part of the ongoing investigation.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s counter terrorism command, warned of an increasing number of UK-based individuals being targeted by foreign states to act as so-called proxies.
“Anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state here in the UK should think again,” he said.
“This kind of activity will be investigated, and there are potentially very serious consequences for those convicted.”
Murphy pointed to a recent case involving two young British men recruited by Russia’s Wagner Group to set fire to a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. They are awaiting sentencing and face lengthy prison terms. However, police stressed that the Wagner case is not linked to the Essex arrests.
The latest investigation underlines the UK’s tougher stance on foreign espionage since the National Security Act came into force last year, granting authorities new powers to counter state-linked threats.
