LONDON — Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey in July 2025 of conspiring to damage a car and two properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The convictions followed arson attacks in north London during May 2025.

Prosecutors established that the attacks targeted a vehicle and two residences in the Kentish Town and Islington areas of north London. A Toyota previously owned by Starmer was set on fire on May 8, 2025. A fire also occurred on May 12, 2025, at the entrance to a home rented by Starmer's sister-in-law, Judith Alexander.

Lavrynovych was recruited online by a Russian-speaking contact who used the alias "El Money." Prosecutors said the handler provided written instructions concerning target locations and how to mix flammable liquids from a hardware store. Judicial rulings determined that defense requests for intelligence files regarding "El Money" were irrelevant to the jury proceedings, and Judge Neil Garnham instructed the jury not to speculate about the identity of "El Money."

Lavrynovych was found not guilty of intending to endanger life but was convicted on charges of acting recklessly regarding whether life was endangered. Petro Pochynok, 35, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit arson in the same proceedings. Lavrynovych had previously received compensation for distributing far-right posters and graffiti in London neighborhoods.

Defense attorney James Scobie said, "It must be a bit of a frustration that no part of this case has really looked into the devil in the background." Helen Flanagan, head of counterterrorism policing, said, "Police have no evidence to suggest that this was a state-backed threat and target on the prime minister." A Downing Street spokesperson described the incidents as an abhorrent attack. Police analysis indicates that "El Money" speaks Russian and likely resides in Russia, and a media investigation reported evidence linking the alias to Russian diplomat Evgeny Lyukshin. Prosecutors did not file charges under the U.K. National Security Act of 2023.