Three Ukrainians on trial for alleged arson plots targeting Starmer's London homes
Three Ukrainians on trial for alleged arson plots targeting Starmer's London homes
A court heard that three Ukrainian nationals plotted arson attacks on properties linked to the Prime Minister in north London.
Three men living in London are on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of conspiring to set fire to properties linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer between 1 April and 13 May 2025.
Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 22, Petro Pochynok, 35, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, deny all charges.
Prosecutors say a Russian-speaking recruiter offered money to the trio to carry out the arson attacks, targeting a car once owned by Starmer, a house managed by a company he once led, and the Kentish Town home where the prime minister's sister-in-law still resides.
Over three nights in May last year, three fires were set in a north London residential area, a pattern prosecutors described as unusual and not a coincidence.
On 8 May 2025 a car formerly owned by the prime minister was found alight in Kentish Town; three days later fires were started at flats linked to him in Islington; and on 12 May another blaze was at the entrance to his Kentish Town home.
Lavrynovych is also charged with damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life and all three are charged with conspiring with others to damage property by fire. The defendants, who live in London, deny the allegations.
