Three people arrested on suspicion of assisting Russian spies carry out attacks in Britain

They were arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing Investigation into suspected National Security Act offences, which is being led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

A 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old man were arrested at an address in Grays, Essex.

A 46-year-old man was arrested at a separate address, also in the Grays area of Essex.

All three were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section three of the National Security Act (NSA), 2023.

All three have been taken to a police station in London.

The Met Police confirmed the country to which the allegations relate is Russia.

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Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Through our recent national security casework, we're seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as 'proxies' being recruited by foreign intelligence services.

"Indeed, two young British men are awaiting sentencing after they were recruited by the Wagner Group - effectively the Russian state - to carry out an arson at Ukrainian-linked warehouse.

"They are facing potentially lengthy custodial sentences, although, to be clear, today's arrests are in no way connected to that investigation.

"But 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.

"This kind of activity will be investigated, and anyone found to be involved can expect to be prosecuted, and there are potentially very serious consequences for those who are convicted."

Officers searched two addresses in Essex and all three people have since been released on police bail with conditions, while the investigation continues.

New Scotland Yard said it would not disclose the nationalities of the individuals involved.

The UK has repeatedly accused Russia or its agents of being behind spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe.

The British domestic spy chief said Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem".

The Kremlin has denied the accusations, saying the UK Government repeatedly blames Moscow for anything "bad" that happens in the UK.

In July, three men were found guilty of an arson attack on businesses linked to Ukraine in London, with British officials stating that the attack had been ordered by Russia's Wagner mercenary group.

This followed the conviction in March of a group of Bulgarians who were part of a spy unit operating on behalf of the Kremlin.