This case involves a series of arson attacks targeting properties associated with Keir Starmer, who at the time was the leader of the Labour Party in the UK. The attacks were carried out by two men—Romanian citizen Radu Carpiuc and Ukrainian-born Dmytro Lavrynovych—who were recruited by an individual known only as "El Money." Here are key points from the case: 1. **Recruitment and Instructions:** - El Money, who communicated in perfect Russian and Ukrainian, initially hired Lavrynovych to print out ads for placement at specific addresses. - Later, he was instructed to check CCTV footage at two addresses for £1,500. - For the car arson attempt on 8 May, El Money provided detailed instructions on what to buy and how to execute the task. He wanted the incident to be broadcasted on news. 2. **Targets of Attacks:** - A Toyota RAV4 owned by Starmer was set ablaze. - A front door at a property managed by Starmer before he became leader was targeted. - The home where Starmer's sister-in-law lived was also the target of an arson attack early on 12 May. 3. **Motivation and Threats:** - Lavrynovych stated that El Money knew his address in south London, which made him feel threatened. - Lavrynovych did not express any political interest or grudge against Starmer or the government but described Putin as a "terrorist" when asked about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 4. **Execution of Tasks:** - For the car arson attempt, El Money instructed Lavrynovych to set fire to the main door of a building that resembled an office. - Lavrynovych emphasized that his intention was not to endanger anyone's life and that he only executed what he was told. 5. **Legal Proceedings:** - The trial took place in London, where Carpiuc and Lavrynovych were charged with the arson attacks. - Lavrynovych maintained that he did not know who Starmer was or have any political motivations for the attacks. 6. **Russian Involvement:** - There is no direct evidence linking Russia to these attacks, according to Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London. - However, the case fits into a broader pattern of Russian-backed sabotage and disinformation campaigns against Western targets. The trial highlighted the complexity of attributing such attacks and underscored the challenges faced by law enforcement in identifying the true motives behind such acts.