In a concerning development, a British man, aged 20, has been accused of organizing an arson attack on Ukrainian-linked commercial properties in London. Court documents allege that he acted on behalf of the notorious Wagner Group, a Russian private military company. The suspect is alleged to have plotted and executed the attack on two units at an industrial park in Leyton, east London, on March 20, 2024. The incident demanded the intervention of 60 firefighters to extinguish the fire. The charges also include the recruitment and payment of others to carry out the arson attack. The investigation uncovered the involvement of four additional suspects, who now stand accused of aggravated arson in connection with the attack. One of the suspects faces an additional charge of accepting material from an unnamed foreign intelligence service. Subsequently, the UK Foreign Office took swift action, summoning the Russian ambassador, Andrey Kelin, over allegations of Russian orchestration of malicious activities on British soil. The statement issued by the foreign office also expressed concern regarding a perceived pattern of Russian involvement in sponsoring such activities within the territories of other sovereign states. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, strongly condemned the allegations, emphasizing the need to allow the judicial process to unfold while expressing deep concern about foreign nationals engaging in criminal activities in the UK for the benefit of foreign states.
British Man Accused of Arson Attack on Ukraine-Linked Businesses for Wagner Group
