Russian spies discussed faking an Islamic State suicide attack in order to kill an investigative journalist, a court has heard.

Orlin Roussev and Jan Marsalek, the fugitive boss of a German tech company, discussed how they could kidnap or kill Christo Grozev, who worked for investigative site Bellingcat.

The pair discussed blowing up his boat and blaming it on Iran or getting an “Isis” suicide bomber to cut off his head.

The details have emerged during the Old Bailey trial of Bulgarians Vanya Gaberova, 30, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, all from London, who all deny conspiracy to spy on behalf of Russia.