Authorities in Essex have detained two men and a woman on allegations of supporting Russian intelligence operations during Trump’s visit.
The trio was taken into custody under suspicion of breaching Section 3 of the 2023 National Security Act, which addresses collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies.
They were subsequently transported to a London police station for further investigation.
The arrests took place during the same period as US President Donald Trump’s official visit to the United Kingdom, a NATO member.
Officials are warning of a sharp rise in the recruitment of UK nationals by hostile foreign intelligence services, with young individuals increasingly being used as “proxies” to carry out criminal activity on British soil.
UK Security on Russian Agents
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, issued the stark warning in a statement this week, revealing disturbing trends emerging from recent national security investigations.
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“Through our recent national security casework, we’re seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services,” Murphy said.
His remarks follow the high-profile case of two young British men who are currently awaiting sentencing after being recruited by the Wagner Group, a notorious Russian paramilitary organization widely considered to act as an arm of the Kremlin.
According to authorities, the pair were tasked with carrying out an arson attack on a warehouse linked to Ukraine, showing the real-world consequences of foreign interference and proxy operations.
“They are facing potentially lengthy custodial sentences,” Murphy confirmed. “Although, to be clear, today’s arrests are in no way connected to that investigation.”
“But anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state here in the U.K. should think again,” Murphy warned.
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The comments come amid growing concern over state-sponsored threats to UK national security, with police and intelligence services urging vigilance as global tensions continue to reverberate at home.
Trump’s Visit to the UK
Trump arrived in the United Kingdom this week for an unprecedented second state visit, marked by royal pageantry, political diplomacy, and public protest.
The three-day visit, which began on September 16, is centered on boosting economic cooperation and strengthening diplomatic ties.
Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, where talks focused on trade, tech investment, and global security.
British officials hailed the visit as a major success, announcing over £150 billion in US investment pledges, largely in AI, biotech, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
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