FIRST BRITON IS CHARGED WITH WORKING FOR RUSSIA'S WAGNER GROUP

The first Briton has been charged with working for Russia's Wagner Group after being accused of torching a Ukrainian aid centre under new spy laws.

Dylan Earl is the first person to be charged under the new National Security Act brought in last year to target those working secretly for hostile states within the UK.

Now it can be revealed that the 20-year-old from Leicestershire is alleged to be at the centre of an extraordinary Russian attack on British soil to target Ukrainian supplies.

Earl is accused of recruiting others to carry out an arson attack on an aid collection centre in East London to send a 'message' on behalf of Russia that assistance to Ukraine will be met with 'punishment'.

It is said to be the first attack orchestrated by the Wagner Group on British soil.

Details of the alleged plot can be revealed today after reporting restrictions were lifted by a judge following a series of arrests by British counter terrorism police.

Earl was charged last week with a raft of offences including assisting a foreign intelligence service by carrying out reconnaissance of targets and aggravated arson 'in relation to activity intended to benefit Russia'.

But the case was shrouded in secrecy at the time due to 'operational activity' being carried out by Met officers which has now concluded.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Earl had caused a serious fire at two industrial units in Leyton, East London owned by a Ukrainian businessman which is advertised on charity websites as an aid collection centre for Ukrainians.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters spent more than four hours tackling the blaze at the industrial estate which started just before midnight on March 20.

Prosecutor David Cawthorne said Earl had been recruited online by Russia's Wagner group to carry out the attack.

He told the court: 'Mr Earl acted as a conduit.

'He was recruited online by those acting on behalf of Russia and the terrorist organisation the Wagner group to recruit others and engage in malign activity.

'The arson which caused a significant fire in a commercial premises was intended to send out the message that if you assist Ukraine there will be punishment to follow.'

He is accused of recruiting two other British men to pour petrol over the shutter of the warehouses which are owned by a Ukrainian logistics firm.

Paul Adrian English, 60, from Roehampton and Nii Kojo Mensah, 21, from Croydon were later charged with aggravated arson, but they are said to be unaware that Earl was allegedly working for the Wagner Group, which became a proscribed terror group in the UK last year.

When the pair appeared in court, Mr Cawthorne said: 'Mr Mensah and Mr English are both charged with aggravated arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered in relation to a fire in mid-March at a commercial premises in London.

'There is another individual, Mr Earl who is charged with this offence and there is a connection with a foreign power- Russia.

'There is no suggestion, at this point in time, that Mr Mensah and Mr English did it for this reason, they did it because they were quite happy to commit a serious criminal offence for financial gain.'

The prosecutor said: 'We are not saying they knew this, but there was actually a lorry driver asleep in his cab at the time. He was alerted to the fire and called the emergency services managing to get out.

'It was a significant fire causing serious damage and numerous fire engines attended.'

Robert Katz, defending Mensah, said: 'He is a very young man, just 21 years old. He lives with his parents.

'His mother works as a health carer while his father works as an Uber driver.

'Mr Mensah works in construction four days a week and he attends college. He is an apprentice. He is in employment. He has a stable family home. He is a man of good character.'

Sevim Saygin, defending English said: 'My client is keen to attend court to clear his name. His instructions are he does not know anything about this matter.

'He has a serious physical condition. This is going back to having broken his back in 2015.

'Negligence at the hospital meant it was not spotted at the time resulting in a collapsed lung and kidney damage. He has had operations on his spine. He is on a lot of medication and uses a special mattress.'

During the brief hearing no pleas were entered by English and Mensah.

Earl is also yet to enter pleas to two National Security Act offences and aggravated arson.

He stands charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service between 20 December 2021 and 18 April 2024 by engaging in conduct, namely agreeing to undertake fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to assist with such activity.

He is also accused of preparatory conduct contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023, between 1 February 2024 and 18 April 2024, namely an act endangering the life of a person or an act creating serious risk to the health or safety of the public in the United Kingdom, engaged in conduct in preparation for the commission of such an act.

Earl has also been charged with aggravated arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The three defendants have been remanded in custody until the next hearing on May 10 at the Old Bailey.

2024-04-26T11:38:03Z dg43tfdfdgfd