A British man has been charged with conducting hostile state activity to benefit Russia, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Dylan James Earl, 20,Dylan James Earl allegedly carried out a range of anti-Ukraine assignments after agreeing to work for agents of Vladimir Putin.

He is one of five individuals charged, with one of their plans including the orchestration of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in London in March 2024.

Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Dylan Earl, 20, is alleged to have engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state.

"Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024."

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on April 20, Judge Daniel Sternberg initially put reporting restrictions in place to prevent the identification of Earl, his co-accused, and any other details.

However, those restrictions have since been lifted and it can also be reported that two other men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Kojo Menash, 21, have been charged with aggravated arson in relation to the case.

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