- Sixth suspect arrested
- Bulgarian nationals charged
- Court appearance scheduled
A sixth individual is suspected of belonging to a Russian intelligence organisation operating within the United Kingdom.
Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, a 38-year-old Bulgarian national residing in Acton, west London, was arrested on 7 February and is due to appear in court on Wednesday. He is charged with “conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”.
In October, five other Bulgarian nationals are due to face court on similar charges.
Orlin Roussev, aged 46, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Ivan Stoyanov, 32, from Greenford, west London; Vanya Gaberova, 29, from Euston, London; Bizer Dzhambazov, 43; and Katrin Ivanova, 32, from Harrow, north-west London, were arrested in February last year.
They are alleged to have conducted surveillance on locations and individuals targeted by Russian interests from August 2020 to February 2023.
Mr Ivanchev is listed as the owner of a London-based decorating company.
According to Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, Mr Ivanchev’s arrest followed investigations after the earlier arrests in this case.
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After his initial arrest, he was released on bail and then charged on Tuesday.
He is set to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The other five accused are currently in custody and are scheduled for court in October 2024.
