Two Men Jailed After Arson Attacks On Property Linked To UK Prime Minister — Alleged Orders Came Via Telegram

A British court on Friday sentenced two men for setting fires at a car and two properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a plot prosecutors say was directed by an anonymous Russian-speaking handler known as "El Money." Roman Lavrynovych, 22, a Ukrainian national, received a seven-year sentence; Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, a Romanian citizen, was jailed for two years after being convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire.

Sentencing and Convictions

Prosecutors say the pair carried out arson attacks across three nights in May 2025. Lavrynovych was convicted at the end of a six-week trial and described by the judge as someone who could be easily manipulated. Carpiuc was found to have acted as an intermediary who sought to arrange payments and recruit someone to film the fires; prosecutors said the promised payments never materialised.

Investigation and Alleged Handler

Investigators say the attacks were carried out on instructions from an individual using the name "El Money," who communicated with Lavrynovych via the Telegram messaging app. Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, who led the initial Metropolitan Police counterterrorism inquiry, told the court that evidence suggested El Money spoke Russian and was "likely to be in Russia," and that the methods used bore the hallmarks of operations attributed to Russian intelligence—although El Money has not been identified or charged.

Trial Evidence

Evidence presented at trial included Telegram messages and material recovered from Lavrynovych's phone. Prosecutors say El Money gave detailed instructions, including target locations and advice on preparing flammable mixtures using items from a hardware store. Lavrynovych was also allegedly instructed to film the fires. Messages on his phone showed he had been paid previously for other vandalism, which investigators say will be probed further.

Impact and Official Responses

The attacks did not cause major structural damage or reported injuries, but smoke from the third incident filled the residence that had been Starmer's home before he became prime minister; his sister-in-law, Judith Alexander, said she was "struggling to breathe" during that episode. The U.K. Home Office condemned the incidents as an "abhorrent attack" and said those responsible have been brought to justice. It did not comment on whether the government would formally attribute the plot to Russia.

Judge Neil Garnham said Lavrynovych agreed to perform a "mindless piece of arson for money," calling him a "useful idiot, a fool" and noting his vulnerability to manipulation due to what the judge described as low-level intellectual functioning.

Defense lawyer James Scobie said Lavrynovych was "low-hanging fruit" used by a handler to target the prime minister and that his client had been exploited and shamed his family.

Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, now head of the Metropolitan Police's counterterrorism unit, said police are increasingly confronting crimes organised by anonymous figures online who promise payment for criminal acts. She urged anyone approached to carry out such activity to "think again," warning they could be left unpaid and face jail time.

Note: El Money has not been identified or charged. Authorities continue to investigate related vandalism and the broader network behind these online-directed crimes.