Teenagers Targeted by Foreign Influence in Alarming New Trend, Says Counter-Terror Chief
British schoolchildren have been arrested and investigated as part of probes into Russian and Iranian-backed plots against the UK, according to the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the unit, said that young people in their mid-teens had been suspected of being used by criminal networks acting on behalf of foreign governments. These groups are allegedly paid by hostile states to recruit and exploit teenagers, encouraging them to carry out illegal activities on British soil.
The revelation comes amid growing concern over the scale and evolution of state-backed aggression from countries including Russia, Iran, and China.
Rising Threat From Hostile States
Murphy said the level of state-linked threats faced by Britain has increased fivefold since 2018, the year Russian agents used Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent, in an assassination attempt in Salisbury.
Since then, threats have expanded beyond espionage to include:
- Sabotage
- Cyberattacks
- Targeting of dissidents
- Covert influence campaigns
The UK’s counter-terrorism police now believe that young people are being manipulated or groomed into roles that support these campaigns, sometimes without fully understanding the risks or consequences.
Criminal Networks and Foreign States: A Dangerous Mix
It is understood that criminal groups acting as intermediaries are being used by countries like Russia and Iran to recruit minors for tasks such as:
- Gathering intelligence
- Assisting in low-level sabotage
- Harassing political targets
- Disrupting dissident communities
Some of these activities appear to be linked to the Russian Wagner group, a paramilitary organisation known for operating on behalf of the Kremlin. Murphy warned that Wagner’s reach extends beyond war zones, and its influence is now touching UK soil.
“We Must Rethink How We Engage With Young People”
In a call for new prevention strategies, Murphy suggested that the UK may need a “Prevent-style” programme to tackle the grooming of young people by foreign states — similar to the initiative used to steer individuals away from extremism.
“We are increasingly seeing young people being drawn into being influenced by the Russian state, Wagner… That means we do need to think differently about how we might speak to these people about the realities of the risk they are taking,” Murphy said.
He stressed that prevention and education may be as important as law enforcement in tackling the problem. Young people may not be fully aware that they are participating in activity linked to foreign espionage or sabotage.
The Bigger Picture: Foreign Powers Targeting British Youth
The threat is part of a wider pattern of foreign interference and state-backed subversion, particularly from:
- Russia, which is widely accused of cyber and covert operations across Europe
- Iran, known for targeting dissidents and activists in exile
- China, which has also been linked to political interference and industrial espionage
UK intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies are now treating these activities as serious national security threats that require cross-agency cooperation, including schools, social services, and community leaders.
What’s Next?
As investigations continue, the UK government is expected to:
- Review national security strategy in light of this emerging threat
- Explore new legislation or safeguarding powers to protect young people from foreign influence
- Expand intelligence-sharing with international allies facing similar tactics
Murphy’s comments indicate a shift in how the UK views modern security risks—not just as military or digital threats, but as a hybrid warfare strategy that now includes targeting children.