German police have arrested two men suspected of spying for Russia, accusing them of scouting potential attack targets, including US military bases in Germany, and preparing for sabotage actions. The arrests have prompted Germany to summon Russia's ambassador and underscored the threat of Russian espionage. The suspects are accused of planning explosive attacks to undermine military support for Ukraine, and one of them is also alleged to have been a fighter for the Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine. The arrests highlight the seriousness of Russian spying operations in Germany and the need for defensive measures against such threats.
Former US ambassador to Bolivia, Victor Manuel Rocha, has been charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly acting as a covert agent for Cuba. The DOJ claims that Rocha engaged in clandestine activity with Cuban intelligence services since 1981, sharing false information with the US and meeting with Cuban operatives. Rocha, who served in the US Foreign Service for 25 years, is accused of obtaining positions within the US government to access non-public information and influence US foreign policy. The DOJ has charged him with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Rocha was apprehended in Miami and is currently detained, awaiting a bond hearing.
Five Bulgarian nationals living in the UK are set to be charged with conspiracy to conduct espionage on behalf of Russia. The suspects are accused of working in an operational spy cell, conducting surveillance on targets and collecting and passing information to the Russian state. The investigation by the Metropolitan Police uncovered allegedly fake passports and official identity documents for multiple countries. The group is also accused of organizing a surveillance operation in Montenegro. The defendants will appear in court on Tuesday.
Five Bulgarian nationals living in the UK are set to be charged with spying for Russia over a period of almost three years. The individuals are accused of conspiring to collect information that could be useful to an enemy and prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state. They are due to appear in court later this month. The charges follow an investigation by the London Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command. The UK has been taking steps to strengthen its response to external security threats and espionage, including passing a national security law in July.
