Two men charged over alleged Russia-linked arson plot
Two more men have been charged in connection with an alleged arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business in London, bringing the total number of suspects to seven.
In April, two British men were charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service following a large fire at an industrial estate in Leyton in March. It is believed the foreign country involved is Russia.
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police announced that Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, have been charged with aggravated arson. Neither is accused of having ties to Russian intelligence.
They were arrested on Thursday and appeared in court earlier on Saturday.
The court heard that Mr. Asmena, who has no fixed address, was born in Lithuania and has previously applied unsuccessfully for EU Settled status. Mr. Rose, from Croydon, also faces two charges of possessing a knife.
Neither defendant was asked to enter a plea during the brief hearing.
Earlier this year, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves were charged with offenses under the National Security Act related to the fire, making them the first individuals prosecuted under the new law.
The legislation is designed to crack down on alleged espionage, sabotage, and foreign interference.
Mr Earl is accused of planning to target the business, as well as attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, undertaking fraudulent activity, and arson.
Mr Reeves is accused of accepting money knowing that it was from a foreign intelligence service.
Three other suspects – Dmitrijus Paulauska, Paul English, and Kojo Mensah – have previously been charged with lesser offenses not linked to national security legislation.
A trial is scheduled to begin next June.
On Saturday, Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said there is no wider threat to the public and the “investigation remains ongoing”.
