59 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDaniel De Simone,Investigations correspondent,Dan SalesandOlga Malchevska
Counter Terrorism Policing/PATwo men have been jailed for conspiring to carry out arson attacks targeting property and a car connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych 22, was jailed for seven years while Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, was sentenced to two years imprisonment at the Old Bailey.
The attacks in north London were ordered on behalf of Russia, the BBC has revealed.
Lavrynovych carried them out after being recruited by Russian-speaking Telegram user “EL” who promised him payment. He had previously been hired by the same unknown figure to put up far-right posters.
The judge, Mr Justice Garnham, described Lavrynovych as a “useful idiot” who could be easily manipulated.
He said he had been “easily bought” and “accepted the job as you had accepted other grubby little tasks”.
Carpiuc played a “supporting role” in the “utterly reckless” attacks, the judge said.
The court heard a Toyota car previously owned by the prime minister was found on fire on a street he used to live on in Kentish Town, on 8 May 2025.
On 11 May, a fire was discovered at flats linked to Sir Keir in nearby Islington. He had lived there years before.
A day later, a fire was discovered at the entrance to Sir Keir’s Kentish Town home, which he still owned and was being rented out to his sister-in-law, Judith Alexander.
She told the trial of the billowing black smoke going up the stairs while she, her daughter and partner were in the house.
Lavrynovych and Carpiuc were found guilty at the court on Monday of conspiring together and “with others” to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025.
Lavrynovych was also convicted of alternate counts of damaging property by fire, being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was acquitted of damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life.
A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, was found not guilty of the conspiracy charge.
Metropolitan PoliceAfter Lavrynovych carried out the arson, “EL” contacted him on 12 May saying he would get crypto and should throw away his clothes.
He urged Lavrynovych to leave the city but he was arrested hours later after officers stormed 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.
James Scobie KC, representing Lavrynovych, said he was a “complete and utter foot soldier” and “fodder for this type of infiltration”.
He said Lavryovych is remorseful, telling the court of the “shame he has brought on the family in Ukraine”.
He told the court that a message from “EL” had made clear that damaging the front door was enough, as long as it generated media coverage.
Carpiuc, who was living in Romford in east London, was arrested on 17 May at Luton Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Romania.
Carpiuc’s barrister Shahid Rashid said he had only been “the money man” and was not going to get anything out of the crimes.
He added: “His motivation was helping a friend out who needed money desperately for his father’s medical treatment.”
Carpiuc’s father told the BBC outside court they thought the sentencing was unfair as “EL” had not been caught or punished.
Lavrynovych’s mother, who asked not to be named, said she felt “heartbroken and ashamed”.
She added: “Roman’s poor health impacted his intelligence from the very early age, and I’ve tried hard to protect him from bad people. But he is so naive.
“I wish my son was better sent to Ukraine, to defend our country on the frontline.”
Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “I would like to praise the swift work of the investigation team who identified the men involved within a few days of the fires.
“Crimes, such as arson, being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment is a recurring trend in our casework.”
Keir StarmerCrimeRussia-UK relations