Two Sentenced for Arson Attack on Property Linked to UK PM Keir Starmer

Key Points

• Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, sentenced to seven years in prison for conspiring to commit arson on a car and two properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer
• Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, of Romania, sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the arson conspiracy
• Both men were found guilty on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Old Bailey after a trial
• Petro Pochynok, 35, from Ukraine, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit arson
• Lavrynovych was also convicted of damaging two properties by fire and being reckless as to whether life was endangered
• The two men were recruited by an anonymous Russian-speaking person on Telegram known as “El Money”
• “El Money” offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency to set the fires, record them, and get them broadcast on TV
• A Toyota Rav4 once owned by Starmer was set on fire on May 8, 2025
• On May 11, 2025, a fire was set at the front door of a property in London that Starmer had managed in the past
• On May 12, 2025, another fire was set at Starmer’s former home in Kentish Town where his sister-in-law and family lived
• Lavrynovych claimed he didn’t know who Starmer was and just “wanted some additional money”
• Justice Neil Garnham told Lavrynovych he was “utterly reckless about the risk you were creating”
• The judge described Lavrynovych as a “useful idiot” who was easily manipulated
• Lavrynovych’s lawyer James Scobie described him as “utterly naive, utterly gullible, unthinking” and a “complete and utter footsoldier”
• Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, praised the swift investigation work
• Flanagan stated that crimes directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment is a recurring trend

London (Britain Today News) June 19, 2026 — Two men have been sentenced to prison for arson attacks on property connected to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking a significant conclusion to a counter-terrorism investigation into coordinated fires targeting the Prime Minister’s linked properties and vehicle. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, of Romania, received a two-year sentence at the Old Bailey on Friday, June 19, 2026, after both were found guilty on Monday of conspiring to commit arson on a car and two properties linked to Starmer.

What Sentences Were Given to Men Who Targeted Keir Starmer Property?

Roman Lavrynovych received seven years in prison for his role in the arson plot. As reported by the same source, Stanislav Carpiuc was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the conspiracy. The televised sentencing session at the Old Bailey saw Mr Justice Neil Garnham direct most of his comments toward Lavrynovych, emphasising the recklessness of the crimes.

Lavrynovych was also convicted of causing damage to two structures through fire and showing disregard for potential danger to life, adding to his sentencing severity. Both men displayed no visible emotion as their sentences were pronounced, maintaining a fixed gaze ahead from the dock during the proceedings.

Who Was “El Money” and How Did They Recruit the Attackers?

Trial evidence showed that the two men were recruited by an anonymous Russian-speaking person on Telegram who went by the handle “El Money”. As reported by reporter of The Guardian, the person offered Lavrynovych money to set the fires, record them, and get them broadcast on TV. As reported by the Financial Times and BBC, the attacks were orchestrated via Telegram messages from an account tied to a Russian-based network.

According to court evidence presented “El Money” proposed £3,000 in cryptocurrency to Lavrynovych if he set the fires, filmed the incidents, and ensured they made the news. As reported by journalist of The Straits Times, EL Money contacted Lavrynovych in both Russian and Ukrainian languages. Law enforcement recovered over 320 messages exchanged between El Money and Lavrynovych dating back to September 4.

Telegram messages retrieved by law enforcement indicated that Lavrynovych had been recruited, given instructions, and promised payment in cryptocurrency for the arson acts. The anonymous communicator, who spoke in Russian, offered the financial incentive that prompted the attacks.

What Properties and Vehicle Were Targeted in the Arson Attacks?

A Toyota Rav4 that was once owned by Starmer was set on fire on May 8, 2025, marking the first attack in the series. As reported by journalist of RBC Ukraine, on May 8, 2025, Lavrynovych set fire to the Toyota RAV4 that had previously belonged to Starmer.

Another fire was set on May 11 at the front door of a property in London that Starmer had managed in the past, located in Islington where the prime minister had lived in the 1990s. As reported by reporter of RBC Ukraine, on May 11, Lavrynovych targeted an apartment in Islington where the prime minister had lived in the 1990s.

On May 12, there was another fire set at Starmer’s former home in Kentish Town, where his sister-in-law and her family lived, representing the most dangerous attack as a family was present. As reported by journalist of BBC News, the Kentish Town property was now rented to Starmer’s sister-in-law. During the night of May 12, Lavrynovych attacked this family home in Kentish Town.

Nobody was injured in the blazes, according to court evidence. The fires in May 2025 damaged the home Starmer moved out of when he became prime minister, as well as an apartment building he once owned a share of, and destroyed his former Toyota SUV.

What Did Justice Neil Garnham Say During Sentencing?

During the sentencing, which was televised, Justice Neil Garnham spoke mostly to Lavrynovych, delivering a scathing assessment of his actions. As reported by The Guardian, Justice Garnham stated:

“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”.

Garnham rejected Lavrynovych’s claim that he did not know the two houses he set fire to were occupied, saying:

“You really didn’t care about that”.

As reported by the same source, Garnham continued:

“I accept you did not intend to put the lives of the occupants at risk but it is my conclusion on both occasions you were utterly reckless about the risks you were creating”.

Garnham said he realised that Lavrynovych and Carpiuc hadn’t instigated the arsons but described Lavrynovych as a “useful idiot” who was easily manipulated. Garnham stated:

“You were used by El to advance some agenda or cause of which you knew nothing. You were essentially acting as a pawn for some unknown cause and putting the lives of people asleep in their beds at risk as a result”.

As reported by journalist of WK News, El Money is the

“central figure in the case but a man or group about whom we know very little,”

Justice Neil Garnham said. Garnham told Lavrynovych that he was

“utterly reckless about the risk you were creating”.

What Did Lavrynovych’s Lawyer Say About His Client?

Lavrynovych’s lawyer James Scobie described him as “utterly naive, utterly gullible, unthinking” and a “complete and utter footsoldier”. As reported by journalist of The Mirror, in mitigation, Lavrynovych’s lawyer James Scobie KC highlighted the shame his client had brought upon his family in Ukraine.

Scobie stated:

“He gained nothing from this. He was exploited, completely naive and gullible, acting as a mere foot soldier”.

Lavrynovych’s defense lawyer James Scobie said his client was “low-hanging fruit” used by El Money to deliberately target the prime minister and was prime “fodder for this type of infiltration”.

As reported by the same source, Lavrynovych, Scobie said, had brought shame on his family in Ukraine where his father worked with the military before he died.

“How worrying that is for us all that there are individuals like this who are fodder for this type of infiltration,”

Scobie said.

During the trial, Lavrynovych said he didn’t know who Starmer was and just “wanted some additional money”. He said he didn’t know the homes were occupied. As reported by journalist of SF Gate, Lavrynovych said he needed money and admitted he set the fires, saying he wanted the bounty of 3,000 pounds ($4,000) in cryptocurrency to pay for medical treatment his father needed.

What Did Counter Terrorism Policing Say About the Investigation?

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, praised the swift work of the investigation team. As reported by journalist of The Guardian, Flanagan stated:

“Crimes, such as arson, being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment is a recurring trend in our casework”.

The counter-terrorism officers led the investigation due to similarities in the attacks, according to police statements. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty of conspiracy to damage property by fire. The two men will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 19 June 2026, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Who Was Acquitted in the Arson Case?

A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, from Ukraine, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit arson. As reported by journalist of The Irish Times, another Ukrainian man, Petro Pochynok (35), was cleared of the same charge. As reported by BBC News, a third defendant, Petro Pochynok, aged 35, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit arson.

The court heard that Pochynok had been enlisted by Carpiuc to assist Lavrynovych with the initial fire, while Carpiuc’s responsibilities included planning and receiving payment. Despite this role, the jury cleared Pochynok of the conspiracy charge.

Why Were These Attacks Considered Counter-Terrorism Cases?

The attacks were investigated by counter-terrorism police due to their coordinated nature and the involvement of an anonymous online handler promising payment. As reported by journalist of The Guardian, counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation due to the similarities in the attacks.

Crimes such as arson being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment represent a recurring trend in counter-terrorism casework, according to Commander Flanagan. The involvement of a Russian-speaking intermediary and the coordinated targeting of multiple properties linked to the Prime Minister elevated the investigation to counter-terrorism status.
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What Happened to the Mastermind “El Money”?

El Money remains unidentified, with Justice Garnham noting that authorities know very little about this central figure in the case. As reported by journalist of WK News, El Money is the

“central figure in the case but a man or group about whom we know very little,”

Justice Neil Garnham said.

Reports from the Financial Times and BBC indicated that the attacks were orchestrated via Telegram messages from an account tied to a Russian-based network, though the mastermind has not been identified or arrested. The BBC mentioned a diplomat, but prosecutors did not provide details about Lavrynovych’s handler, disclosing only that they communicated through the ‘El Money’ handle on Telegram in Russian and Ukrainian.

What Legal Charges Were Each Man Convicted Of?

Roman Lavrynovych was convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire, damaging two properties by fire, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered. As reported by The Guardian, Lavrynovych was also convicted of causing damage to two structures through fire, showing disregard for potential danger to life.

Stanislav Carpiuc was convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire, receiving a two-year sentence. Lavrynovych faces charges of intentionally causing damage by fire with the potential to endanger lives at two properties linked to Starmer on May 11 and 12, 2025, as well as alternative counts of recklessly causing damage by fire.

The two men were convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire after the trial at the Old Bailey. Lavrynovych was jailed for seven years and Carpiuc was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday.