Two men charged in connection with alleged Russia-linked arson plot

Two more men have been charged in relation to an alleged arson attack against a Ukraine-linked business in London, taking the total number of suspects to seven.

It comes after two British men were charged in April with helping a foreign intelligence service in relation to a large fire which broke out at an industrial estate in Leyton in March.

It is understood the foreign country in question is Russia.

On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, had been charged with aggravated arson. Neither are accused of ties to Russian intelligence.

They were arrested on Thursday and appeared in court earlier on Saturday. 

Mr Asmena, of no fixed address, was born in Lithuania and has previously unsuccessfully applied for EU Settled status, the court was told.

Mr Rose, of Croydon, also faces two charges of possessing a knife.

Neither was asked to enter a plea during the short hearing.

Earlier this year, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves were charged with National Security Act offences in relation to the fire, becoming the first two people to be prosecuted under the new law.

The legislation is designed to crack down on alleged espionage, sabotage and foreign interference.

Mr Earl is accused of planning to target the business, as well as attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, undertaking fraudulent activity and arson.

Mr Reeves is accused of accepting money knowing that it was from a foreign intelligence service.

Three other suspects - Dmitrijus Paulauska, Paul English and Kojo Mensah - have previously been charged with lesser offences not linked to national security legislation.

A trial is scheduled to begin next June.

On Saturday, Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said there is no wider threat to the public and the "investigation remains ongoing".