Two more men have been charged in connection with an alleged arson attack on Ukrainian-linked businesses in London carried out on behalf of the Wagner Group.

Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, are accused of offences under the National Security Act, the Metropolitan Police said.

They join five other defendants who have been charged in connection with the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, on March 20, which was brought under control by 60 firefighters.

Dylan Earl, 20, a co-defendant, is accused of orchestrating arson attacks on behalf of the Wagner Group, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation.

Rose, of Croydon, south London, and Asmena, of Wandsworth, also south London, are both accused of aggravated arson.

Rose has been further charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Police said the two men will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

It is alleged Earl was in contact with a handler in the Wagner Group before carrying out reconnaissance of targets “in relation to activity intended to benefit Russia”.

It is claimed that Earl recruited and paid others to carry out the arson attack on Ukrainian-linked businesses owned by Oddisey and Meest UK.

The Wagner Group, whose former leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last summer, fought for Russia in the Ukrainian conflict and staged a short-lived coup against the authorities in Moscow in June last year.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s counter-terrorism unit, said: “While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat...

“This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”

Co-defendants

Rose and Asmena’s co-defendants face a plea hearing on Oct 4 and a provisional trial of eight weeks from June 2 2025.

Earl, of Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, is charged with aggravated arson, preparatory conduct to an act endangering life or a person or an act creating a serious risk to the health and safety of the public in the United Kingdom contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023, and assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.

Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, from Croydon, who is on conditional bail, is accused of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts.

Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon, is accused of aggravated arson and accepting cash knowing it was from a foreign intelligence service.

Nii Mensah, 21, of Thornton Heath, south London, is charged with aggravated arson.