Two South Londoners arrested in connection with alleged pro-Russian activity

Five others have already been charged in connection with the case.

Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, from Croydon, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, of Wandsworth, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with aggravated arson.

Rose was further charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Both were arrested earlier last week as part of an ongoing counter terrorism investigation over an arson attack in March against a Ukrainian-owned business on an industrial estate in Leyton, east London.

Four of the five previously charged are from South London.

Jake Reeves, 22, of Croydon, was charged on April 25 with aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to the National Security Act 2023.

Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, of Croydon, was charged on the same day with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts.

Paul English, 60, from Roehampton, and Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, from Thornton Heath, were charged on April 21 with aggravated arson.

Dylan James Earl, 20, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire was charged on April 19 with aggravated arson, preparatory conduct and assisting a foreign intelligence service.

A pre-trial plea hearing has been set for October 4, with a trial expected to begin at the Old Bailey in June 2025.

The foreign state to which these charges relate is Russia.

The investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, and has been supported by officers from CTP East Midlands, Leicestershire Police, CTP South East and Kent Police.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, 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.”

Picture: Pixabay/heberhenrique20