Latest news with #Ukrainian-linked
Deccan Herald
a day ago
- General
- Deccan Herald
Six go on trial over London arson attack blamed on Russia's Wagner group
Four of the group are accused of aggravated arson on the Ukrainian-linked premises on an industrial estate in east London last March. Two others face charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Six go on trial over London arson attack blamed on Russia's Wagner group
LONDON (Reuters) -Six men went on trial on Wednesday over an arson attack which prosecutors say was carried out on behalf of Russia's Wagner mercenary group against a business in London that shipped goods to Ukraine. Four of the group are accused of aggravated arson on the Ukrainian-linked premises on an industrial estate in east London last March. Two others face charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. They deny the charges. The goods the business shipped to Ukraine included satellite equipment from Elon Musk's Starlink. Prosecutor Duncan Penny told London's Old Bailey court the arson was "calculated criminality – but it was at the behest of foreign influence". He said that while those on trial may have been acting for "good old-fashioned greed", the men directing them were doing so on behalf of the Wagner group, banned by Britain as a terrorist organisation. Penny said the arson was organised by Dylan Earl, who had contacted Wagner on Telegram and last October admitted a charge of aggravated arson and being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered. Earl also became the first person to be convicted under the new National Security Act (NSA), brought to crack down on hostile activity by foreign states, when he admitted preparatory conduct to carry out acts which endangered life or created a serious risk to the safety of the public in the UK. Another man, Jake Reeves, 23, pleaded guilty in November to charges of aggravated arson and admitted a charge under the NSA of obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, the prosecutor told the court. He said Earl and Reeves were also involved in a plot to carry out arson attacks on two other London businesses, a wine bar and a restaurant, and to kidnap the owner. The British authorities have accused Russia or its agents of being behind a number of spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe, with the UK's domestic spy chief saying Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem". The Kremlin denies any such involvement and says London repeatedly blames it for anything "bad" that happens in Britain. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, deny aggravated arson. Dmitrijus Paulauska, 23, and Ashton Evans, 20, deny knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information. The trial continues.
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Six go on trial over London arson attack blamed on Russia's Wagner group
LONDON, June 4 (Reuters) - Six men went on trial on Wednesday over an arson attack which prosecutors say was carried out on behalf of Russia's Wagner mercenary group against a business in London that shipped goods to Ukraine. Four of the group are accused of aggravated arson on the Ukrainian-linked premises on an industrial estate in east London last March. Two others face charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. They deny the charges. The goods the business shipped to Ukraine included satellite equipment from Elon Musk's Starlink. Prosecutor Duncan Penny told London's Old Bailey court the arson was "calculated criminality – but it was at the behest of foreign influence". He said that while those on trial may have been acting for "good old-fashioned greed", the men directing them were doing so on behalf of the Wagner group, banned by Britain as a terrorist organisation. Penny said the arson was organised by Dylan Earl, who had contacted Wagner on Telegram and last October admitted a charge of aggravated arson and being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered. Earl also became the first person to be convicted under the new National Security Act (NSA), brought to crack down on hostile activity by foreign states, when he admitted preparatory conduct to carry out acts which endangered life or created a serious risk to the safety of the public in the UK. Another man, Jake Reeves, 23, pleaded guilty in November to charges of aggravated arson and admitted a charge under the NSA of obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, the prosecutor told the court. He said Earl and Reeves were also involved in a plot to carry out arson attacks on two other London businesses, a wine bar and a restaurant, and to kidnap the owner. The British authorities have accused Russia or its agents of being behind a number of spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe, with the UK's domestic spy chief saying Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem". The Kremlin denies any such involvement and says London repeatedly blames it for anything "bad" that happens in Britain. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, deny aggravated arson. Dmitrijus Paulauska, 23, and Ashton Evans, 20, deny knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information. The trial continues.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Six go on trial over London arson attack blamed on Russia's Wagner group
Six go on trial over London arson attack blamed on Russia's Wagner group LONDON - Six men went on trial on Wednesday over an arson attack which prosecutors say was carried out on behalf of Russia's Wagner mercenary group against a business in London that shipped goods to Ukraine. Four of the group are accused of aggravated arson on the Ukrainian-linked premises on an industrial estate in east London last March. Two others face charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. They deny the charges. The goods the business shipped to Ukraine included satellite equipment from Elon Musk's Starlink. Prosecutor Duncan Penny told London's Old Bailey court the arson was "calculated criminality – but it was at the behest of foreign influence". He said that while those on trial may have been acting for "good old-fashioned greed", the men directing them were doing so on behalf of the Wagner group, banned by Britain as a terrorist organisation. Penny said the arson was organised by Dylan Earl, who had contacted Wagner on Telegram and last October admitted a charge of aggravated arson and being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered. Earl also became the first person to be convicted under the new National Security Act (NSA), brought to crack down on hostile activity by foreign states, when he admitted preparatory conduct to carry out acts which endangered life or created a serious risk to the safety of the public in the UK. Another man, Jake Reeves, 23, pleaded guilty in November to charges of aggravated arson and admitted a charge under the NSA of obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, the prosecutor told the court. He said Earl and Reeves were also involved in a plot to carry out arson attacks on two other London businesses, a wine bar and a restaurant, and to kidnap the owner. The British authorities have accused Russia or its agents of being behind a number of spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe, with the UK's domestic spy chief saying Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem". The Kremlin denies any such involvement and says London repeatedly blames it for anything "bad" that happens in Britain. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, deny aggravated arson. Dmitrijus Paulauska, 23, and Ashton Evans, 20, deny knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information. The trial continues. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
FirstUp: Russia to hold peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul and other headlines of the day
Russian officials are set to meet in Istanbul today to hold talks on a truce with Ukraine. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet the country's provincial and territorial premiers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In India, Meghalaya and Assam are set to hold the next round of border talks in Guwahati read more Russian officials are likely to hold peace talks with Ukrainian counterparts today. AP It is set to be a busy Monday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, Russia will hold peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul today. Meanwhile, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet the country's provincial and territorial premiers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan today. Dylan Earl, a British man will go on trial for accused of masterminding arson attacks on Ukrainian-linked businesses for Russia. In India, Meghalaya and Assam are set to hold the next round of border talks today at Guwahati. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Russia likely to hold peace talks in Istanbul Russia is likely to hold peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. The talks follow a previous meeting in Istanbul on May 16, which was the first one since March 2022. Moscow has laid out prerequisites for a ceasefire, to which Kyiv has not yet replied. 'We hope that all those sincerely interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of negotiations,' said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Vladimir Medinsky, head of Russia's negotiating team, said he had contacted Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to propose the June 2 meeting in Istanbul, stating Russia was ready for a 'substantive discussion' on the ceasefire package, reported news website The Indian Express. Mark Carney to meet Canada's premiers Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney will convene an in-person meeting with Canada's provincial and territorial premiers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan today. This gathering aims to address pressing national issues, including economic resilience, internal trade barriers and the country's response to escalating trade tensions with the United States. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet the premiers of his country. AP The meeting follows Carney's recent visit to Washington, DC, where he met with US President Donald Trump to discuss the imposition of new tariffs on Canadian goods. In a social media post, Carney emphasised the need for 'launching big nation-building projects, removing internal trade barriers and building one Canadian economy' to strengthen the nation's economic foundation. This First Ministers' Meeting is Carney's first in-person engagement with the premiers since assuming office in March 2025. It serves as a critical step in aligning federal and provincial strategies to navigate economic uncertainties and reinforce Canada's sovereignty amid external pressures. British man to go on trial accused of masterminding arson attacks A 20-year-old British man Dylan Earl is scheduled to stand trial at London's Old Bailey after being accused of orchestrating an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked business in East London. Prosecutors allege that Earl masterminded the March 2024 blaze at a warehouse in Leyton, acting on behalf of the Russian state and the Wagner Group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom, reported news website BBC. Earl faces charges under the National Security Act 2023, marking one of the first applications of this legislation. He has pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and preparatory conduct to commit acts endangering life but denies a charge of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The fire, which required 60 firefighters to control, targeted a warehouse owned by a Ukrainian businessman, referred to in court as 'Mr. X.' The incident is part of a broader pattern of suspected Russian-backed sabotage across Europe, including arson attacks in Poland, Lithuania, and Germany. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Assam-Meghalaya to resume border talks Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma to hold the next round of border talks on June 2 at Guwahati aimed at resolving the longstanding border disputes between their states. This meeting marks the continuation of efforts following the March 2022 memorandum of understanding (MoU), which addressed six of the twelve contentious areas along the 885-kilometer interstate boundary. Earlier, Meghalaya chief secretary Donald Philips Wahlang said that the meeting would be held at the Chief Minister level. 'The next Chief Minister level talks would be held to sort out differences, including issues that we have both for phase I and II,' Wahlang said. With inputs from agencies
