A Russian man has been arrested by counter-terror police on suspicion of spying for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The suspect, in his 40s, was detained by the Metropolitan Police at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Monday evening, June 13, and was taken to Hammersmith police station
The man is accused of spying in Britain for Russian president Vladimir Putin and was due to get an outbound flight when he was arrested, according to The Sun.
His arrest came as the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Met’s SO15 counterterrorism unit and Britain’s domestic counter-intelligence and security organisation, MI5.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We can confirm that officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested a man in his 40s at Gatwick Airport on Monday 13 June on suspicion of offences under Section One of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
“He has been taken to a London police station, where he currently remains in police custody.
“Inquiries continue.”
A source told The Sun Online: ‘The suspect is believed to have been in the UK spying on behalf of the Putin regime.
‘He was kept under observation and arrested as he arrived at Gatwick to try and fly out of the country.’
The arrest comes as spy chiefs in the UK are on heightened alert for cyber attacks after it was revealed earlier this month that Russian hackers had attempted to compromise the mobile devices of several Ukrainian and European officials.
