Three individuals, comprising two men aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman, have been arrested in Essex on suspicion of espionage for Russia. The arrests took place at two separate addresses in Grays, where the suspects were detained for allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service. They have since been taken to a police station in London for questioning.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the allegations pertain specifically to Russia. Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Counter Terrorism Command, highlighted a concerning trend in national security cases. He noted an increase in individuals being recruited as ‘proxies’ by foreign intelligence services.

Murphy referenced a separate case involving two young British men who are awaiting sentencing after being recruited by the Wagner Group, which is linked to the Russian state. These men were involved in an arson attack on a warehouse associated with Ukraine. He clarified that the recent arrests are not connected to this ongoing investigation.

He warned, "Anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state here in the UK should think again. This kind of activity will be investigated, and anyone found to be involved can expect to be prosecuted, with potentially very serious consequences for those who are convicted."

As the investigation continues, all three suspects have been released on bail. Scotland Yard has chosen not to disclose the nationalities of the individuals involved in the case.