Three men detained in UK on suspicion of spying for Russia

Police in the UK have arrested three men suspected of collaborating with Russian intelligence.

As reported by Reuters, the detainees – aged 48, 45 and 44 – were arrested at addresses in west and central London.

Police said those locations, as well as another site, are currently being searched. The investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police.

"We're seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as 'proxies' being recruited by foreign intelligence services and these arrests are directly related to our ongoing efforts to disrupt this type of activity," said Dominic Murphy, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London.

The arrests were made under the 2023 National Security Act, which broadened the UK's ability to prosecute individuals suspected of espionage.

In mid-October, the UK domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned Members of Parliament that they were being targeted by spies from China, Russia and Iran.

In June, six people went on trial in the UK over an arson attack in London believed to have been ordered by the Wagner Group.

In May, six Bulgarian nationals received prison sentences in the UK for spying for Russia.