Two jailed over arson attacks linked to Starmer

Two men have been jailed for a string of arson attacks on property and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after a court heard they were recruited through Telegram by a Russian-speaking user who promised payment.

Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian national, was sentenced to seven years in prison at London’s Old Bailey. Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian national born in Ukraine, received a two-year sentence. A jury found both men guilty on Monday of conspiring together and “with others” to damage property by fire between April 1 and May 13, 2025.

The attacks took place over several nights in north London in May. On May 8, a Toyota car previously owned by Starmer was found on fire on a street where he once lived in Kentish Town. On May 11, a fire was discovered at flats linked to Starmer in nearby Islington, where he had lived years earlier. The next day, a fire broke out at the entrance to Starmer’s Kentish Town home, which he still owned and which was being rented by his sister-in-law, Judith Alexander.

Alexander told the trial that billowing black smoke went up the stairs while she, her daughter and her partner were inside the house.

Judge Neil Garnham, also referred to as Mr Justice Garnham, called Lavrynovych a “useful idiot” and said he had acted as a “pawn” for an unknown cause that put lives at risk. “You agreed to carry out this mindless piece of arson for money. You were not a man of great principle, and you were easily bought,” the judge said. He described Carpiuc’s part as a “supporting role” in “utterly reckless” attacks.

Lavrynovych was also convicted of additional counts of damaging property by fire while being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was acquitted of damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors said he lit all three fires. A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, was found not guilty of the conspiracy charge.

Prosecutors said the men were offered money by a Telegram user known as “EL” or “El Money,” who contacted Lavrynovych in Russian and Ukrainian. The BBC reported that the attacks were ordered on behalf of Russia and that “El Money” is a 23-year-old Russian diplomat and the son of a senior official. Al Jazeera reported that prosecutors did not state who or what was believed to be behind the account, while UK police said there was no specific evidence linking the two men to Russia. The Russian embassy in London rejected accusations of Russian involvement, saying Moscow posed no threat to UK security.

The court heard Lavrynovych had previously been hired by the same unknown figure to put up far-right posters. After the arson, “EL” contacted him on May 12, saying he would get cryptocurrency and should throw away his clothes. He urged him to leave the city, but police arrested Lavrynovych hours later after storming his home in Sydenham.

In a police interview, Lavrynovych said he had no idea who the prime minister was and had not heard of Keir Starmer. His barrister, James Scobie KC, described him as a “complete and utter foot soldier” and “fodder for this type of infiltration,” and said he was remorseful for the “shame he has brought on the family in Ukraine.”

Carpiuc, who lived in Romford in east London, was arrested on May 17 at Luton Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Romania. His barrister, Shahid Rashid, said Carpiuc had been “the money man” and was not going to profit from the crimes. “His motivation was helping a friend out who needed money desperately for his father’s medical treatment,” Rashid said.

Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, praised investigators who identified the men within days. “Crimes, such as arson, being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment is a recurring trend in our casework,” she said.