Three men have been arrested in the British capital on suspicion of spying for Russia, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday.
The suspects, aged between 44 and 48, were detained at addresses in west and central London as part of an ongoing counter-espionage investigation.
According to police, the men are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, in breach of the 2023 National Security Act. Authorities later confirmed that the intelligence service in question was Russia’s.
Ongoing Searches Across London
Search operations are currently being conducted at the suspects’ homes and another location in west London, police said in a statement.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who heads Counter-Terrorism Policing in London, noted a recent rise in the number of “proxies” recruited by foreign intelligence agencies to conduct operations on UK soil.
“We’re seeing a clear increase in the use of intermediaries by hostile states,” Murphy said. “Our teams remain focused on disrupting threats to national security.”
Part of a Wider Espionage Crackdown
The arrests come amid growing concerns about Russian espionage and sabotage operations across Europe.
Just last week, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned that Russia remains intent on causing “havoc and destruction” through covert activities.
“In the past year, we and police have disrupted a steady stream of surveillance plots with hostile intent — targeting individuals Russian leaders view as their enemies,” McCallum said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied involvement in such operations or in acts of sabotage against the UK and its allies.
Recent Russian Spy Cases in the UK
Thursday’s arrests follow several other Russia-linked espionage incidents in Britain over the past year:
- Six men are currently being sentenced for an alleged arson attack on Ukraine-linked businesses in east London in 2024.
- The ringleader, Dylan Earl, became the first person convicted under the National Security Act.
- In September, two men and a woman were detained in Essex on suspicion of spying for Russia.
- In May 2025, a UK court sentenced six Bulgarian nationals for their roles in a Russian spy ring, with prison terms totaling more than 50 years.
