
Russia, Iran and China intensifying life-threatening operations in UK, police say, World News
The British authorities in recent years have repeatedly voiced concern at what they said was malign activity by the three states in Britain, ranging from traditional espionage and actions to undermine the state, to sabotage and assassinations.
Those accusations have been rejected by Moscow, Beijing and Tehran, which say they are politically motivated.
On Tuesday, the two British officers said told reporters there had been a fivefold increase in hostile state activity since the Novichok nerve agent poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2017, which London says was carried out by Russian spies.
Dominic Murphy, who heads up London's Counter Terrorism Command, said the breadth, complexity and volume of hostile operations from Russia, Iran and China had grown at a rate neither they nor their international partners nor any intelligence community had predicted.
"We are increasingly seeing these three states... undertaking threat-to-life operations in the United Kingdom," he told reporters.
In most instances, proxies, usually criminals acting quite often for small amounts of cash, were carrying out the states' work for them, said Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for UK Counter Terrorism Policing.
The proxies also included vulnerable people or those who felt disenfranchised, with those aged in their mid teens among those arrested or under investigation.
"We are concerned that they might find themselves in an online environment where they're encouraged or egged on to do something and don't understand what they're being asked to do," said Evans, adding they were less concerned that the children were ideologically motivated.
Earlier this month, three men were convicted over an arson attack on Ukraine-linked businesses in London, which police said had been ordered by Russia's Wagner mercenary group. Their ringleader had earlier admitted plotting to kidnap a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last year, the head of Britain's domestic spy agency MI5 said that, since January 2022, there had been 20 Iran-backed plots to kidnap or kill British nationals or individuals based in Britain who Tehran regarded as a threat.
"We know that they are continuing to try and sow violence on the streets of the United Kingdom, they too are to some extent relying on criminal proxies to do that," Murphy said of Iran.
[[nid:720261]]
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
More than 220 UK MPs urge Starmer to recognise Palestinian state
Find out what's new on ST website and app. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure from more than 200 MPs - including dozens in his own party - to formally recognise a Palestinian state. LONDON - More than 220 British MPs, including dozens from the ruling Labour party, demanded on July 25 that the UK government formally recognise a Palestinian state, further increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The call, in a letter signed by lawmakers from nine UK political parties, came less than 24 hours after French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September. France would be the first Group of 7 country – and the most powerful European nation to date – to make the move, already drawing condemnation from Israel and the United States. Mr Starmer has come under rising domestic and international pressure over recognising Palestinian statehood, as opposition intensifies to the ongoing war in Gaza amid fears of mass starvation there. 'We urge you to officially recognise the state of Palestine at the Conference next week,' the 221 UK lawmakers wrote in the joint letter, referring to a July 28-29 UN Conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York. 'Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact,' it said. The signatories, from parties including the centre-right Conservatives and centrist Liberal Democrats, as well as regional parties in Scotland and Wales, cited Britain's 'historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly They also noted the country's role in helping to create the state of Israel through the 1917 Balfour Declaration. 'Responsibility' 'Since 1980, we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people,' they added. In the face of growing pressure on the issue, the UK government has maintained its longstanding stance that it supports a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. But it has insisted that the conditions are currently not right for formal recognition of a Palestinian state. In a statement on July 25, following a call about Gaza with his counterparts in France and Germany, Mr Starmer said he was 'working on a pathway to peace in the region'. 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan,' he added. A number of factors could deter Mr Starmer from making the move, including wanting to avoid angering US President Donald Trump. The American leader, who lands later on July 25 in Scotland for a five-day visit, dismissed Mr Macron's announcement before departing Washington, saying it 'doesn't carry weight'. The pressure around recognising Palestinian statehood has been building on Mr Starmer's government, with nearly 60 Labour MPs reportedly urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to make the move in a private letter earlier in July. Meanwhile, Mr Macron raised the issue during his UK state visit this month, publicly urging London to work with Paris on a formal recognition announcement. AFP

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Iran says it held ‘frank' nuclear talks with European powers
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A European delegation leaving the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul, following nuclear talks on July 25. ISTANBUL - Iranian diplomats said they held 'frank and detailed' nuclear talks on July 25 with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, who have threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran fails to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors. The meeting in Istanbul was the first since Israel launched an attack on Iran in June targeting key nuclear and military sites, sparking a 12-day war and leading Tehran to pull away from working with the UN watchdog. The European diplomats were seen leaving the Iranian consulate shortly before 1100 GMT (7pm in Singapore) after spending several hours inside. Israel's offensive – which killed top commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of others and in which residential areas and military sites were struck – also derailed US-Iran nuclear talks that began in April. Since then, the European powers, known as the E3, have threatened to trigger a so-called 'snapback mechanism' under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal that would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August. The sanctions trigger expires in October, and Tehran has warned of consequences should the E3 opt to activate it. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Kazem Gharibabadi, who attended the talks alongside senior Iranian diplomat Majid Mr Takht-Ravanchi, wrote on X that he had used the meeting to criticise the European stance on the 12-day conflict with Israel. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly He said the snapback mechanism had also been discussed, adding: 'It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.' Mr Takht-Ravanchi told state news agency IRNA the Iranian side had demanded 'punitive sanctions' be lifted 'as soon as possible'. Before the talks, a European source said the three countries were preparing to trigger the mechanism 'in the absence of a negotiated solution'. The source urged Iran to make 'clear gestures' on uranium enrichment and resuming cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. 'Common ground' Mr Gharibabadi warned earlier in the week that triggering sanctions – which would deepen Iran's international isolation and place further pressure on its already strained economy – would be 'completely illegal'. He accused European powers of 'halting their commitments' under the 2015 deal, which the United States unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. 'We have warned them of the risks, but we are still seeking common ground to manage the situation,' said Mr Gharibabadi. Iranian diplomats have previously warned that Tehran could withdraw from the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty if sanctions were reimposed. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has urged European powers to trigger the mechanism. Israel's June 13 attack on Iran came two days before Tehran and Washington were scheduled to meet for a sixth round of nuclear negotiations. On June 22, the US joined Israel's offensive by striking Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. Before the war, the US and Iran were divided over uranium enrichment – with Tehran describing it as a 'non-negotiable' right, while Washington called it a 'red line'. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran is enriching uranium to 60 per cent purity – far above the 3.67 per cent cap under the 2015 deal and close to weapons-grade levels. Tehran has said it is open to discussing the rate and level of enrichment, but not the right to enrich uranium. A year after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal, Iran began rolling back its commitments, which had placed restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Israel and Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied. 'New form' Iran insists it will not abandon its nuclear programme, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi describing the position as 'unshakable'. Though he claimed enrichment had come to a halt because of 'serious and severe' damage to nuclear sites caused by US and Israeli strikes, the full extent of the damage sustained in the US bombing remains unclear. Mr Trump claimed at the time the sites had been 'completely destroyed', but US media reports based on Pentagon assessments cast doubt on the scale of destruction . Since the 12-day war, Iran has suspended cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of bias and failing to condemn the attacks. Inspectors have since left the country but a technical team is expected to return in the coming weeks after Iran said future cooperation would take a 'new form'. Israel has warned it may resume strikes if Iran rebuilds facilities or moves toward weapons capability. Iran has pledged a 'harsh response' to any future attacks. AFP


CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Iran, European powers hold first direct nuclear talks since airstrikes as UN deadline nears
ISTANBUL: Iran and European powers held 'serious, frank, and detailed' talks on Friday (Jul 25) over Tehran's nuclear programme, as both sides seek to avoid a lapse of UN sanctions that could be automatically reimposed in October. The meeting in Istanbul marked the first direct contact between Iranian officials and Western diplomats since last month's Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran. It lasted about four hours at Iran's consulate and was attended by representatives from the European Union and the E3 group: France, Britain, and Germany. IRAN AND EUROPE EXCHANGE PROPOSALS Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said both sides presented specific ideas relating to nuclear inspections and sanctions relief. 'While seriously criticising their stances regarding the recent war of aggression against our people, we explained our principled positions, including on the so-called snapback mechanism,' he said. 'It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.' The E3 nations, along with China and Russia, remain parties to the 2015 nuclear deal from which the United States withdrew in 2018. That agreement had lifted international sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities. SANCTIONS DEADLINE LOOMING The talks focused on the expiry of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which underpins the 2015 nuclear deal and is due to lapse on Oct 18. If no action is taken by then, all UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted. However, the E3 could trigger the 'snapback' mechanism at least 30 days before that date, reimposing sanctions on sectors including energy, banking, and defence. To allow time for this process, European diplomats have set the end of August as a soft deadline to determine whether diplomacy with Iran can be revived. Officials say Tehran would need to make clear commitments, including eventual talks with Washington, renewed cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, and accounting for roughly 400 kg of near-weapons-grade uranium reportedly unaccounted for since last month's strikes. IRAN RESISTS PRESSURE TO EXTEND UN RESOLUTION Tehran has resisted the idea of extending Resolution 2231. A foreign ministry spokesperson called such suggestions 'meaningless and baseless' prior to the Istanbul meeting. Nevertheless, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi expressed cautious optimism. Speaking in Singapore, he said inspection visits could resume this year if technical arrangements are made. 'We need to agree on where to go, how to do it. We need to listen to Iran in terms of what they consider should be the precautions to be taken,' Grossi said. US STRIKES AND NUCLEAR FACILITIES The United States carried out five rounds of talks with Iran prior to June's military action, which President Donald Trump said had 'obliterated' Iran's alleged nuclear weapons ambitions. While Tehran maintains its programme is strictly civilian, NBC News has reported that a US intelligence review concluded that only one of the three targeted sites was heavily damaged, while the other two suffered less extensive harm. Iran has consistently denied it seeks to build a nuclear weapon.