FBI arrests ten accused of being Russian spies

TEN alleged Russian spies have been arrested in the United States, the result of a multi-year investigation in four states, the FBI has said.

Eight of the 10 were “carrying out long-term, ‘deep-cover’ assignments”, the FBI said, while two had lesser roles in the Russian intelligence programme. The arrests took place on Sunday in New Jersey, New York, Boston and Virginia.

The New York and New Jersey defendants, two of whom were named as Richard Murphy and Cynthia Murphy from Monclair, New Jersey, were appearing yesterday in a federal court in Manhattan. The Virginia defendants were to make court appearances in Alexandria. One other defendant has been charged, but is at large.