Two men found guilty over Starmer-linked arson attacks
Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty today at the Old Bailey of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the convictions, while a third suspect was acquitted. Investigators suspect Russian involvement, though state backing remains unproven. Attacks in north London last year targeted Starmer’s former home, a vehicle, and a property where his sister-in-law resides.
What changed
New details confirm recruitment via a Russian-speaking Telegram account and the third attack’s timing and victim’s presence.
Live updates
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Two men convicted in Starmer-linked arson attacks; Russian links probed
confidence 95%Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty today at the Old Bailey of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the convictions, while a third suspect was acquitted. Investigators suspect Russian involvement, though state backing remains unproven. Attacks in north London last year targeted Starmer’s former home, a vehicle, and a property where his sister-in-law resides.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych, 22, was recruited by a Russian-speaking Telegram account known as ‘El Money’ to carry out the attacks.
- Three arson incidents occurred in May 2025: a Toyota vehicle owned by Starmer was burned in Kentish Town, flats in Islington where he lived three years prior were set on fire, and a Kentish Town house—where his sister-in-law resided—had its front door ignited.
- The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed today that Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty of plotting the attacks, while a third suspect was acquitted.
- Direct Action UK, the group linked to the attacks, is suspected of being a front for Russian state-backed hybrid warfare operations.
Still unconfirmed:
- Russian state-linked operatives may have orchestrated the attacks as part of broader sabotage operations in Europe.
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Two men convicted in Starmer-linked arson attacks; Russia’s role under scrutiny
confidence 95%Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty today of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed their convictions at the Old Bailey. Investigators allege Russian involvement, though the extent of state backing remains unclear. The attacks occurred in north London last year, with motives disputed between financial gain and foreign interference.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were convicted today of conspiring to set fire to properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- One of the men was recruited through a Russian-language Telegram account, according to court proceedings.
- The arson attacks targeted properties and a car in north London last year.
- Evidence suggests Russian actors directed the plot and attempted to stoke tensions using fake far-right and Muslim groups.
Still unconfirmed:
- The motive for the attacks may have been financial, according to court testimony.
- Official confirmation of Russian state backing for the attacks remains disputed.
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Two men convicted in Starmer-linked arson plot; Russian involvement alleged
confidence 75%Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc have been found guilty of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed their conviction at the Old Bailey. Investigators suggest Russian involvement, though official state backing remains disputed. Attacks took place in north London last year.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed their conviction at the Old Bailey.
- Attacks occurred in north London last year.
Still unconfirmed:
- Russia was behind the arson attacks targeting Keir Starmer.
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Two men convicted over Starmer-linked arson attacks; Russian handler suspected
confidence 95%Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc have been found guilty of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Crown Prosecution Service confirms their conviction at the Old Bailey. Investigators suggest a handler with possible Russian ties directed the plot, though state involvement remains disputed. Attacks occurred in north London last year.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of plotting arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The attacks targeted a car and a house in Kentish Town, north London, last year.
- Lavrynovych was convicted on one count of committing arson with intent to endanger life and another count of reckless arson in connection with one of the house fires.
- The two men appear to have operated under the direction of an online handler named ‘El Money,’ who may have Russian connections.
- Lavrynovych was offered £3,000 in cryptocurrency by an anonymous Russian speaker if the attacks were filmed and gained media attention.
Still unconfirmed:
- The handler directing the attacks has possible ties to the Russian state, though direct state involvement has not been confirmed.
- The recruitment of Lavrynovych may have involved shadowy figures linked to Russian state interests.
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Two men convicted in Starmer-linked arson attacks; Russia cited as origin
confidence 95%A London court has found two men guilty of plotting arson attacks on properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Multiple sources confirm Russian involvement in the attacks, though details on the extent of state backing remain disputed. One defendant is identified as Ukrainian. The case follows earlier reports linking the incidents to foreign interference.
What's confirmed:
- Two men were found guilty in a London court of plotting to set fire to properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- One of the convicted men is a Ukrainian national.
- The arson attacks originated in Russia, according to multiple sources.
- The BBC and other reports indicate Russian state involvement in the plot.
Still unconfirmed:
- Claims that the attacks were directly orchestrated by Russian intelligence agencies remain unconfirmed by official statements.