Overview
- An Old Bailey jury found Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc guilty of conspiring to damage property by fire on Monday after a trial into attacks that targeted a car and two homes connected to Keir Starmer.
- The May 2025 incidents damaged a Toyota formerly owned by Starmer and two residential properties while occupants slept, and court evidence showed no one was physically injured.
- Prosecutors said a Russian‑speaking Telegram account called 'El Money' recruited the attackers and promised about £3,000 in cryptocurrency for filmed attacks, but the account’s operator was not identified or charged at trial.
- Investigations by the BBC and the Financial Times have reported a possible link between 'El Money' and a young Russian diplomat, a claim Counter Terrorism Policing London and the Metropolitan Police say their enquiries have not confirmed.
- The convicted men have been remanded ahead of sentencing later this week and the case has raised questions about online recruitment, foreign‑linked sabotage operations, and public safety as police pursue the anonymous handler.