A truck driver in East London heard flames erupting from a warehouse storing supplies for Ukraine. Despite his attempts to extinguish the fire, it was too large, and he had to retreat. As police evacuated nearby residents, British authorities connected the fire, part of a larger arson plot, to Dylan Earl, a man linked to Russian intelligence operations aimed at disrupting Europe.
This incident is among over 70 documented since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Intelligence officials express concern that inexperienced vandals are being recruited, increasing the likelihood of violence. The Kremlin has denied involvement in such activities, and documents from the trial revealed that Earl communicated with Russian operatives via social media, discussing plans for further arson attacks.
The targeted warehouse was crucial for delivering essential equipment to Ukraine, and the fire destroyed about half of its contents. Following the attack, Earl and his colleagues discussed future targets, revealing a disturbing trend towards increasingly dangerous acts of sabotage linked to Russian operatives. Despite operational controls from Russian intelligence, recruitments often slip out of management, posing significant risks to public safety.
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