Men appear at court charged with alleged offences under the National Security Act

Several people have been charged in connection with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act, as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

The charges are the first to be brought about under the new legislation that came into effect in December 2023.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation, said: “This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us. Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

“We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across Counter Terrorism Policing to meet these.

“While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter. This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”

[A] Dylan James Earl, 20 (17.02.04) of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire was charged on Friday, 19 April with aggravated arson, contrary to section 1(2) and (3) Criminal Damage Act 1971; preparatory conduct, contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023; and assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.

[D] Jake Reeves, 22 (20.10.01), of Croydon, south London, was charged on Thursday, 25 April with aggravated arson, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1971 and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the National Security Act 2023.

[E] Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22 (2.01.02), of Croydon, south London, was charged on Thursday, 25 April with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000.

The foreign state to which these charges relate is Russia.

Earl appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 20 April and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 10 May. Reeves and Paulauska are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 26 April.

Two other men have also been charged in connection with this investigation:

[G] Paul English, 60 (02.10.63) from Roehampton and [F] Nii Kojo Mensah, 21 (03.06.02) from Thornton Heath were charged on Sunday, 21 April with aggravated arson in London in March.

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 22 April and were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 10 May.

Background to the investigation:

On Wednesday, 10 April, officers arrested a man in his 20s [A] as part of an investigation into offences under the National Security Act 2023. The man was arrested at a location in Leicestershire and detained under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

On Sunday, 14 April, a second man, also aged in his 20s [B] was arrested at a location in London and detained under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

Warrants of further detention were obtained in respect of both [A] and [B] and Earl [A] was charged as above. The other man [B] has since been released from police custody without charge.

On Thursday, 18 April, an 18-year-old man [C] was arrested at a location in Stratford, London, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. He was subsequently released on police bail to a date in June.

On Friday, 19 April, four more arrests in connection with the investigation were made as follows:

- A 22-year-old man [D] was arrested in East Croydon under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023;
- A 22-year-old man [E] was arrested in New Addington under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023;
- A 21-year-old man [F] was arrested in Thornton Heath on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life;
- A 60-year-old man [G] was arrested in Croydon on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life;
- A 20-year-old man [H] was also arrested on Sunday, 21 April in Dover, Kent. He was initially arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs and detained under PACE and was subsequently detained under section 27 of the National Security Act, 2023.

Both [F] and [G] were charged on Sunday, 21 April as above. Warrants of further detention were obtained in respect of [D], [E] and [H]. Both [D] and [E] were charged as above. [H] was released from police custody without charge.

The investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and has been supported by officers from CTP East Midlands, Leicestershire Police, CTP South East and Kent Police. Enquiries remain ongoing.