Three men were allegedly recruited by a mysterious Russian-speaking Telegram contact known as 'El Money' to carry out a series of arson attacks targeting properties connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Old Bailey has heard. The defendants, Roman Lavrynovych, 22, Petro Pochynok, 35, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, are accused of orchestrating firebombings across north London last spring.
Prosecution Details the Scheme
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC told jurors on Tuesday that Lavrynovych received instructions from the anonymous Telegram user, who promised payment in cryptocurrency. The motive, Atkinson emphasized, was 'financial reward' rather than any political or ideological agenda. The three fires over five days, all linked to the Prime Minister, went 'beyond coincidence,' he added.
Timeline of Attacks
On May 8 last year, a Toyota Rav4 that once belonged to Sir Keir was allegedly set alight on Countess Road in Kentish Town. Three nights later, a blaze broke out at a house on nearby Ellington Street, which was managed by a company where the Prime Minister had previously served as a director and shareholder. In the early hours of May 12, another house on Countess Road—still owned by the Prime Minister and occupied by his sister-in-law—was deliberately set on fire.
Lavrynovych is accused of using white spirit or a similar accelerant to ignite the front doors of the two houses 'in the dead of night' while residents slept. Atkinson argued: 'The prosecution’s case is that when he did so he must have intended to endanger – to risk – the lives of the people living inside those houses. Why else would you set fire to the front door, blocking the residents’ escape?'
Evidence and Communications
The court was shown CCTV footage allegedly depicting Lavrynovych purchasing white spirit at a B&Q in south-east London two days before the car fire. Later that day, he messaged Carpiuc saying, 'I’m waiting, bitch, listen, it’s an ordinary car,' and searched for the address on Countess Road where the vehicle was parked. Over 300 messages between Lavrynovych and 'El Money' were recovered, indicating a 'good working relationship' spanning seven months and a willingness to recruit others, Atkinson said. He noted that 'El Money' communicated in Russian, contrasting with the Ukrainian used by the defendants.
While Lavrynovych may claim he was pressured by a 'shadowy figure' who threatened him and his family, Atkinson stressed that the messages suggest the motivation was financial gain, not fear. However, he told jurors they need not determine the motive or the true identity of 'El Money,' nor whether the defendants knew the properties were linked to the Prime Minister.
Charges and Trial
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to damage property by fire between April 1 and May 13 last year. Lavrynovych faces additional charges of damaging two properties by fire with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life was endangered on May 11 and 12. Lavrynovych, of Lewisham; Carpiuc, of Romford; and Pochynok, of Islington, have pleaded not guilty. The trial before Mr Justice Garnham is expected to continue until the end of May.
