Two more men have been charged in connection with an allegedly Russian-linked arson attack on a Ukrainian business in London.
Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, of Croydon and Ugnius Asmena, 19, of Wandsworth were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ on Saturday.
Both men are accused of aggravated arson.
Rose was further charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and a private place.
The pair were arrested on Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged offences under new spying laws.
They join five others already charged over a blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, on 20 March, which needed 60 firefighters to bring it under control.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation, said: “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.”
Rose and Asmena’s co-defendants face a plea hearing on 4 October with a trial expected to begin at the Old Bailey in June 2025.
Dylan Earl, 20, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, is charged with aggravated arson and offences under the National Security Act, including preparatory conduct and assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon, is also accused under the act of agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, as well as aggravated arson.
Read more on Sky News:
‘Criminal thuggery’ in Sunderland
UK heatwave set to end this weekend
Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, from Croydon, is charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist acts.
Paul English, 60, from Roehampton and Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, from Thornton Heath, south London, are both charged with aggravated arson.
Source Agencies
