Two charged in connection with alleged offences under National Security Act

Two more people 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.

The charges are part of an investigation under the National Security Act, as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

Twenty-two year-old Jakeem Barrington Rose of Croydon and 19 year-old Ugnius Asmena of Wandsworth appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court with the charge of aggravated arson, contrary to section 1 and Criminal Damage Act 1971.

Rose was further charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. They were arrested on 1 August.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.

"This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”

In April, police announced that the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised charges for offences under the National Security Act - the first brought under the legislation introduced in Dec 2023.

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

The foreign state to which these charges relate is Russia.