In a stunning turn of events, a Michelin-starred restaurant named Hide, located in London's posh Mayfair, became the target of an audacious arson and kidnapping plot orchestrated by Russian intelligence operatives. This terrorist attempt aimed to capture Yevgeny Chichvarkin, a well-known dissident and owner of the acclaimed eatery, known for its unique timber staircase and impressive wine collection.
In March 2024, a group of local petty criminals was manipulated into executing the sinister plan, which included setting fire to a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London. This information came to light during a high-profile trial at the Old Bailey, where numerous messages retraced by the police unveiled the extent of the criminal scheme.
Cmdr. Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command stated that this case illustrates how Russian state-affiliated groups subcontract serious criminal activities in the UK. Recently, a jury convicted three men of arson, while a fourth was found guilty of failing to report the plot against Chichvarkin and his businesses. The operation’s ringleaders, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, had previously admitted their involvement in this shocking espionage effort.
In March 2024, a group of local petty criminals was manipulated into executing the sinister plan, which included setting fire to a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London. This information came to light during a high-profile trial at the Old Bailey, where numerous messages retraced by the police unveiled the extent of the criminal scheme.
Cmdr. Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command stated that this case illustrates how Russian state-affiliated groups subcontract serious criminal activities in the UK. Recently, a jury convicted three men of arson, while a fourth was found guilty of failing to report the plot against Chichvarkin and his businesses. The operation’s ringleaders, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, had previously admitted their involvement in this shocking espionage effort.
