Arsonists firebombed Sir Keir Starmer’s home after Russian figure known as ‘El Money’ offered them cash, court told
Sir Keir Starmer’s home was bombed by arsonists after a mysterious Russian figure known as ‘El Money’ offered cash to target the Prime Minister, a hearing heard today.
Roman Lavrynovych is accused of setting fire to the Prime Minister’s family home, his old car and another property linked to the Labor leader, after establishing a ‘good business relationship’ with a Russian Telegram user who offered arson ‘jobs’ to thousands of people.
Following three arson attacks in North London last May, the mysterious Russian officer suddenly disappeared after allegedly telling the 22-year-old Ukrainian roofer and aspiring model: ‘Look, you’ve attacked the home of a very senior person in Britain.
‘I will send you money, you must leave the city.
‘If the police detain you, secretly write the word ‘geranium’ and I will send you a lawyer.
‘I’ll give you money and a new phone for a week. ‘We won’t be in contact for a week’.
The Old Bailey heard today that Lavrynovych and his alleged accomplices, fellow Ukrainian Petro Pochynok, 35, and Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were promised ‘easy’ cash in a cryptocurrency account for pictures and videos of their attacks.
But the money never came.
Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is accused of setting fire to the Prime Minister’s family home, his old car and other property linked to the Labor leader
Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, is alleged to have conspired with two others to carry out the arson attacks in north London
Ukrainian Petro Pochynok, 35, is also among the defendants; The trio were promised “easy” deposits into a cryptocurrency account for pictures and videos of their attacks
The Prime Minister’s sister-in-law was staying at his parents’ home on May 12 last year when Lavrynovych allegedly poured white spirit on the front door of the property and started a fire while they were asleep.
KC Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson described how his relatives were awakened by the explosion of flames: ‘His brother-in-law lives there with his family.
‘He heard a loud explosion in the early hours of the morning and went to the window. He saw smoke and fire rising at the front door.
‘He called the fire brigade at 01.10.
‘He saw smoke coming from the front door and filling the stairs. He had asthma and was having trouble breathing. ‘His nine-year-old daughter had woken up from the smoke and was very frightened.’
No one was injured in the attack.
Days earlier, Lavrynovych allegedly firebombed a Toyota RAV4 previously owned by Sir Keir and a flat managed by a company that lists Sir Keir as a director.
Yesterday, jurors were shown a photograph of Lavrynovych standing next to the burning car on May 8.
Police later found more than 320 messages between El Money and Lavrynovych dating back to September 2024, when the Russians first sent him a photo of the Toyota.
The court was shown photos of Lavrynovych shopping for ‘accelerator’ ingredients at B&Q days before the arson
The three defendants deny conspiring to damage property in the fire, which broke out between April 1 and May 13 last year
The photo shows materials from the arson case shown to the jury this morning. Three defendants deny conspiring to destroy property through fire
However, the real identity of the ‘El Money’ Telegram app user remains unknown as police recovered an ‘incomplete recording’ and only ‘fragments’ of the deleted chat were found.
The court was today shown photographs of Lavrynovych shopping for ‘accelerator’ ingredients at B&Q days before the arson.
He was said to have previously sent messages on Instagram trying to recruit others, promising them ‘£2,000 for setting a car on fire’.
Mr Atkinson said: ‘The three fires, all involving properties linked to the same person, were beyond coincidence.’
He added: ‘He must have meant to endanger and risk the lives of the people living in these houses.
‘Why else would you set fire to the front door, preventing the residents from escaping?’
The court heard El Money ‘led’ the attacks and sent a ‘targeting packet’ with pictures of the targets surrounded in red.
Mr Atkinson said Lavrynovych was not subject to pressure from ‘a shadowy figure who threatened him and his family if he did not comply’ and told jurors: ‘These activities were motivated by financial reward, not fear.’
The three defendants deny conspiring to damage property in the fire, which broke out between April 1 and May 13 last year.
Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, also denies damaging two properties by fire with intent to endanger life on May 11 and 12 last year.
The trial continues.
