Russia’s war on Ukraine is now being fought on the streets of London, with three Croydon men among five arrested in a counter-terrorism swoop
The police have made its first arrests under the National Security Act, as part of a counter-terrorism investigation into Russian spies’ part in an arson attack on a warehouse in east London last month.
“The foreign state to which these charges relate is Russia,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement issued at lunchtime today.
Three of the five arrested in connection with the investigation – not all of them charged under the National Security Act – are from Croydon.
Jake Reeves, 22, was charged yesterday with aggravated arson, 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.
Dmitrijus Paulauska, also 22 and from Croydon, south London, was charged yesterday with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to Section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000.
Nii Kojo Mensah, 21, from Thornton Heath, was charged on Sunday with aggravated arson in London in March.
The warehouse targeted in the arson attack is linked to Ukrainian business.
Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, is accused of overseeing the plan to target the business, as well as attempting to recruit individuals to “materially assist a foreign intelligence service, undertaking fraudulent activity and arson”.
Russian attack: the arson at this Leyton warehouse has been linked to the invasion of Ukraine
Reeves is accused of taking cash knowing it was from a foreign intelligence service.
The fifth man arrested is Paul English, 60, from Roehampton, charged with aggravated arson
The investigation is related to a fire which broke out on an industrial estate on Staffa Road in Leyton in March, which the prosecution said was started using an accelerant such as petrol.
BBC reports state that Companies House records show that the companies based at the warehouse are Oddisey and Meest UK, both parcel delivery firms. They are owned by Mykhaylo Prykhodko, also known as Mikhail Boikov, and his wife Jelena Boikova, who both live in London.
All five accused men are due to appear at the Old Bailey on May 10.
“This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation.
‘Highly significant’: Met Commander Dominic Murphy
“Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service 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.”
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
What an incredible story., congrats. Is the Croydon connection incidental, or is there something more sinister going on? Fancy, a Croydon Spy Ring! Will a 5th Man be unmasked? BTW, there are a few Philbys in the Croydon ‘phone book. The plot thickens.