British intelligence uncovered a plot to assassinate a Chechen leader in exile in London, Ahmed Zakaev, the British newspaper "Sunday Telegraph" reports.
MI5 came to the knowledge after a gunman shot Russian banker German Gorbuntsov in London on March 20.
Gorbuntsov is still in the hospital, and his life is in danger.
The British intelligence agency is also concerned about the large number of Russians living in that country, who could be targeted for murder, according to the report.
The British newspaper claims its reporters have seen court documents which say MI5 agents are concerned that he Ramzan Kadyrov, a former Kremlin-backed Chechen leader, wanted to order the assassination of rebel leader Zakayev.
Ramzan Kadyrov
Black list
"Kadyrov, who is responsible for the murders of several of his opponents, has a 'blacklist' of certain people, some of whom he wanted to kill," the "Sunday Telegraph" reports.
"Zakaev, who lives in Great Britain, is believed to be the first on that list."
Zakaev stated that he was not informed about the alleged plot, but that he knew about past assassination attempts.
"There are more Russian spies in Britain today than there were during the Cold War," he said.
The "Sunday Telegraph" reports that the UK Home Secretary has led a court battle to have the Russian murder suspect, known by the code name E1, expelled from the country.
The court allowed this person to fight to stay in the UK.
This is the second case in the past few months in which judges have been reluctant to remove individuals deemed by British authorities to be a threat to the country's security.
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