Two men have been found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property and a car connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, proving once again that if you want something done right, maybe don't hire through Telegram.
Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted by an Old Bailey jury for their roles in a fiery spree that targeted the PM's past and present possessions. A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit arson, presumably because he had better sense than to take arson jobs from a guy named "El Money."
The prosecution told the court that Lavrynovych carried out the arson attacks after being recruited online by Russian-speaking Telegram user "El Money," who promised him payment. Because nothing says "reliable employment" like a shadowy figure with a cartoonish alias on an encrypted messaging app.
In May 2025, a Toyota once owned by Sir Keir was set alight in a street in north London. Days later, two homes were set ablaze, including one rented out to the prime minister's sister-in-law, which he still owned. On 8 May 2025, a car previously owned by the prime minister was found on fire on a street he previously lived on in Kentish Town. Three days later, a fire was discovered at flats linked to Sir Keir in nearby Islington. He had lived there years before. On 12 May 2025, a fire was discovered at the entrance to Sir Keir's Kentish Town home, which was being rented out to his sister-in-law. She was inside with her family when the property was set alight by Lavrynovych.
All three, who live in London, had denied conspiring together and "with others" to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025. The jury apparently disagreed, at least for two of them.
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