Man Admits Setting Fire to Car Linked to Keir Starmer Under Threat
Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian man, has admitted to setting fire to a vehicle previously owned by Keir Starmer for £3,000. During his testimony at the Old Bailey in London, Lavrynovych stated he was coerced by a "powerful" Russian-speaking individual using the alias El Money.
Lavrynovych is one of three defendants, alongside Stanislav Carpiuc and Petro Pochynok, accused of carrying out arson attacks on a vehicle and two houses in north London connected to the prime minister.
The vehicle involved was a Toyota Rav4, once owned by Starmer, which was set ablaze in Kentish Town in the early hours of 8 May last year. The incident was treated as suspicious following two additional attacks on properties linked to the prime minister days later.
Threats and Coercion Detailed in Court
In court, Lavrynovych explained that he initially declined El Money's offer of £3,000 in cryptocurrency, fearing police detection. However, El Money became threatening, informing Lavrynovych, who was residing with his grandmother in Sydenham, south London, that he "better do this job" because El Money knew where he lived and that it "might be dangerous" for him.
"Because I felt that there is a threat towards myself and my family. My fear was genuine,"
Lavrynovych told jurors he agreed to carry out the arson due to these threats.
When questioned by James Scobie KC, defending, on why he believed El Money was serious, Lavrynovych replied:
"He told me he is a high-profile person. Maybe he had some connections, maybe he is connected to politics. He said he is like a person with a high status. He just told me he is a person in power."
Details of the Arson and Subsequent Actions
The agreement between Lavrynovych and El Money required him to set fire to the vehicle, film the act, and provide proof. Lavrynovych recounted:
"[El Money] told me that I didn’t do the job properly because it was not on the news and he wanted it broadcasted."
Lavrynovych stated he initially asked co-accused Carpiuc for assistance, but Carpiuc recommended Pochynok instead. Lavrynovych, a construction worker, cited financial difficulties as a key reason for accepting the task.
He described the method instructed: breaking a side window of the car and throwing in a bottle of flammable liquid to ignite the fire. Concerned that the sound of breaking glass might alert nearby residents, Lavrynovych instead poured flammable liquid on the front of the Toyota and ignited it using paper and a lighter.
Additional Jobs and Financial Motives
Lavrynovych admitted to undertaking other tasks for El Money due to financial desperation. In December 2024, he sprayed graffiti on an Islamic community centre in south London, receiving payment covering materials and £20. When asked if the graffiti was offensive or racist, he confirmed:
"Yes, something like that."
In April 2025, El Money requested Lavrynovych to post flyers on a road in Southall, west London, containing messages linking mosques with crime. Lavrynovych did not complete this task, citing concerns that it was "propaganda" and fearing he "might be caught."
Lavrynovych explained that prior to the car arson, there were no consequences for declining jobs. However, when asked to set the car on fire, El Money's approach changed, becoming more forceful and threatening.
Charges and Denials
Lavrynovych, along with Pochynok, 35, and Carpiuc, 27, all London residents, deny conspiracy to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May last year. Additionally, Lavrynovych denies charges of damaging two properties by fire with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life was endangered on 11 and 12 May last year.
