Two men have been found guilty of a series of arson attacks on property linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with the shadowy mastermind behind the plot still at large. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted at the Old Bailey for conspiring to damage property, following a seven-and-a-half-hour jury deliberation. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted.
The Attacks
In May last year, a Toyota Rav4 previously owned by Sir Keir was set on fire in Kentish Town, north London. Days later, two houses were torched, including a north London residence inhabited by the Prime Minister's sister-in-law and her family, which he still owns. The attacks, carried out at night while people were asleep, posed a serious threat to life, the court heard.
Lavrynovych was also found guilty of damaging two properties by fire, being reckless as to whether life was endangered on May 11 and 12. Mr Justice Garnham remanded the defendants into custody to be sentenced on Friday.
The Mastermind: 'El Money'
Police apprehended the defendants within a week of the attacks ordered by an elusive Telegram contact known as El Money. The anonymous Russian speaker had offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency if the fires were filmed and made the news.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, said there was nothing to suggest El Money was a "state threat." However, the intent was to "cause concern" and "disruption" in the UK and "fear" for the Prime Minister. She warned anyone tempted by "easy cash" that they would face justice and lengthy prison sentences.
Russian Involvement
A Financial Times investigation identified a Russian online sabotage network as allegedly being behind the attacks. But a Counter Terrorism Policing spokesperson said it had found no evidence linking any specific person, group, or organization to the El Money social media account.
Details of the Arson
The court heard how Lavrynovych first set light to the Toyota Rav4 on May 8. Three nights later, a fire was reported at a property in Islington managed by a company where the Prime Minister had previously been a director and shareholder. A resident of the top-floor flat was roused by smoke and fled to the roof to call the fire brigade. The fire spread to the building's interior hallway, endangering occupants of four flats.
In the early hours of May 12, the Prime Minister's former residence in Kentish Town was targeted. His sister-in-law Judith Alexander, who lived there with her partner and daughter, described hearing two loud bangs and seeing smoke and an orange glow. She feared what might have happened if she hadn't woken up.
Aftermath and Arrests
After the attacks, El Money urged Lavrynovych to leave the city, saying: "Look, you attacked the home of a very high-ranking person in Britain. I'll send you money, you need to leave the city." He also instructed Lavrynovych to use the code word 'geranium' if arrested to signal for a lawyer.
Lavrynovych was charged on May 15 last year. Two days later, Carpiuc was intercepted at Luton Airport as he awaited a flight to Romania. In his defense, Lavrynovych claimed he was coerced by El Money, whom he believed to be a "powerful" individual with political ties. Carpiuc said he declined to participate and told Lavrynovych the plan was "stupid" and unlawful.
Frank Ferguson from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: "These were deliberate and dangerous acts of arson... intended to intimidate and undermine public confidence. Today's convictions demonstrate that those who commit criminal acts will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted robustly."
