Britain says it will expel Russian defence attache

Britain said on Wednesday it would expel Russia's defence attache, remove diplomatic status from some properties and limit the length of Russian diplomatic visas. Home Secretary James Cleverly said the action followed a pattern of malign activity from Russia across Britain and Europe. "We will remove diplomatic premises status from several Russian-linked properties in the UK ...

Britain said on Wednesday it would expel Russia's defence attache, remove diplomatic status from some properties and limit the length of Russian diplomatic visas.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the action followed a pattern of malign activity from Russia across Britain and Europe. In April, a British man was charged over alleged hostile state activity intended to benefit Russia, including by allegedly recruiting others for an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in London.

"We will expel the Russian defence attache, who is an undeclared military intelligence officer," British interior minister James Cleverly told parliament. "We will remove diplomatic premises status from several Russian-linked properties in the UK ... we are imposing new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas, including capping the length of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK."

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