The instruction was simple, digital, and dangerous. A Telegram user known only as "El Money" promised thousands of pounds for a series of arson attacks in London. The targets were not random. They were properties and a vehicle tied to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

On Thursday, an Old Bailey jury delivered its verdict. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson. The trial exposed a chilling reality: a high-ranking British official’s family home was set ablaze by a man recruited through a screen.

The Pattern of Attacks

The campaign of intimidation unfolded over just four days in May 2025. On May 8, a Toyota previously owned by the Prime Minister was torched in Kentish Town. Three days later, fire crews were called to flats in Islington that Starmer had occupied years prior.

The final act was the most severe. On May 12, an arsonist targeted a home in Kentish Town currently rented by the Prime Minister’s sister-in-law. She was inside the property with her family when the fire was set. It was a terrifying escalation. The motive, however, remained strictly transactional.

The Shadow of 'El Money'

Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, claimed he acted under duress. His defense team argued that his handler, "El Money," employed the tradecraft of a professional intelligence operative. They pushed for the court to release wider information on the handler’s identity, suggesting a potential link to state-sponsored espionage.

The judge disagreed. He ruled that the handler’s true identity was irrelevant to the jury’s task. The court focused on the act, not the architect. The jury heard that Lavrynovych was promised crypto-payments for his work. He never received the full amount.

While the court kept the focus on the defendants, the evidence suggests a much larger operation. A separate BBC Panorama investigation has linked the "El Money" alias to Evgeny Lyukshin, a 23-year-old Russian diplomat. The investigation alleges Lyukshin is the son of a senior official and has been trained in information warfare.

A Growing Security Concern

This case highlights a shift in how foreign actors project power. They no longer need to deploy teams of agents. They use the internet to find desperate proxies. It is cheap. It is effective. And it is increasingly difficult to stop.

Downing Street described the events as an "abhorrent attack." For the security services, the challenge is clear. They are now dealing with a surge in "proxy" attacks where the perpetrator is a local hire, but the direction comes from thousands of miles away.

Key Takeaways

  • Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were convicted of conspiracy to commit arson after targeting properties linked to the Prime Minister.
  • The attacks were coordinated by an anonymous Telegram user who promised cryptocurrency payments to the perpetrators.
  • While the court focused on the financial motive, evidence suggests the handler may be a Russian diplomat trained in information warfare.

Sentencing for Lavrynovych and Carpiuc is expected in the coming weeks. The court will then move to determine the length of their incarceration. For the security services, the investigation into the true identity of "El Money" remains an open and urgent priority.