'Russian spy' accused of orchestrating arson attack on businesses in London

A British man is accused of orchestrating an arson attack on businesses in London after allegedly being recruited as a Russian spy, it can be revealed.

Dylan James Earl, 20, allegedly agreed to go on reconnaissance missions for potential targets, recruit others, and carry out fraudulent activities after agreeing to work for agents of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, it is said.

Earl, who hails from the small village of Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, was charged last week with an offence under the National Security Act, as well as assisting a foreign intelligence service and aggravated arson.

Details of the case had been kept under wraps for national security reasons, but can be reported today for the first time.

It is said he organised and paid for an arson attack on two units on an industrial estate in Staffa Road, Leyton, east London on March 20.

The CPS said Earl is accused of “engaging in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state”.

Co-defendants Nii Kojo Mensah, 21, from Thornton Heath, Paul Adrian English, 60, from Putney, and Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon are accused of being involved in starting the late-night fire.

The blaze, which took 60 firefighters more than four hours to bring under control, is believed to have been targeted at units belonging to two companies with links to Russia and Ukraine.

The alleged target of the arson attack is referred to as ‘Mr X’ in the criminal charges.

Earl appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday after his arrest on April 19. He was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the Old Bailey on May 10.

Mensah and English, who are both also British citizens, were charged at the weekend and appeared in court on Monday. They were also remanded in custody until the hearing next month.

Reeves appeared in court on Friday to face charges of aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service.

Alongside him in the dock was Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, also from Croydon, who is charged with failing to disclose to police information about terrorist acts.

Strict reporting restrictions were placed on the case to protect National Security and the live criminal investigation.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, the High Court judge who oversees terror related criminal prosecutions, agreed to lift the restriction order on Friday, allowing details of the case to be revealed for the first time.

According to the charges, Earl is accused of “agreeing to undertake fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to assist” with “conduct to materially assist a foreign intelligence service carrying out UK-related activities”.

The charge is dated between 20 December 2021 and 18 April this year.

He is also accused, between February and mid-April this year, of “committing an act endangering the life of a person or an act creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public in the United Kingdom”.

The aggravated arson charge alleges the defendants were “intending to destroy such property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered”.

No pleas have been entered by any defendants.