Men Accused in Fires Targeting Starmer Received Orders in Russian, Prosecutors Say
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian, is accused of carrying out arson attacks on properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, allegedly recruited and paid by a Russian-speaking Telegram account.
- The attacks involved fires set to two houses and a vehicle owned or used by Starmer over five days in May last year, with no injuries reported.
- Lavrynovych, along with Stanislav Carpiuc and Petro Pochynok, are on trial at London's Old Bailey, all denying the charges; Lavrynovych is said to have set the fires, Carpiuc planned and handled payments, and Pochynok filmed one attack.
- Prosecutors noted no clear political or ideological motive behind the attacks, though counterterrorism detectives investigated due to the involvement of a high-profile public figure.
