British counterterrorism police have arrested three men in London on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police said the suspects—aged 44, 45, and 48—were detained at separate addresses under the National Security Act on allegations of “assisting a foreign intelligence service.” Officers confirmed that the country involved is Russia and that multiple properties across London are being searched as part of the investigation.
British officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of waging a growing campaign of espionage, sabotage, and cyber operations against the United Kingdom.
“We’re seeing more ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services, and these arrests are part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt such activity,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London’s counterterrorism policing unit.
MI5 chief Ken McCallum said last week that Russia “is committed to causing havoc and destruction,” adding that authorities have recently disrupted several hostile surveillance plots targeting individuals viewed as enemies by Russian leaders.