Sixth person charged in spying investigation

The Metropolitan Police has announced that a sixth person has been charged as part of an investigation into alleged spying offences linked to the Russian state.

Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 28 February.

He is charged with conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state (contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977).

The 38-year-old Bulgarian national was arrested on 7 February 2024 as part of an ongoing investigation being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

He was bailed and then charged with above offence on Tuesday 27 February.

Five people have previously been arrested and charged as part of the same investigation. They are currently in custody and are due to stand trial in October 2024.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “A sixth suspect was identified and arrested as a result of enquiries made following the previous five arrests in this investigation, and working with the Crown Prosecution Service, a charge has now been brought.

“Mr Ivanchev has the right to a fair trial, and we would therefore urge people not to publish anything - on social media or in news media - that creates a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing these active criminal proceedings.”

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