Five suspected of spying for Russia arrested under Official Secrets Act

UK

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Official Secrets Act, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Three of the five arrested back in February were then charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention, under section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010.

The five arrested include:

• A 45-year-old man at an address in Norfolk
• A 42-year-old man, at an address in west London
• A 32-year-old woman, at an address in central London
• A 31-year-old man, at an address in west London
• A 29-year-old woman, at an address in north London

Those charged include:

• Orlin Roussev, 45, of Princes Road, Great Yarmouth
• Biser Dzambazov, 42, of High Road, Harrow
• Katrin Ivanova, 31, of High Road, Harrow

The trio last appeared at the Old Bailey on 31 July.

More from UK

The Official Secrets Act criminalises espionage by prohibiting certain behaviour that is carried out with a purpose prejudicial to the safety of interests of the UK.

This includes obtaining or disclosing information which would be “useful to an enemy”, according to the Gov.UK website.

All five individuals were later released on police bail and are due to return in September 2023.

The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command.