London: A London court in England has found two foreign men guilty of conspiring to set fire to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May 2025, with the intention of inciting terrorism. The court believes the perpetrators were linked to the Russian government and aimed to create fear.
According to Thai News Agency, the two men, a 22-year-old Ukrainian and a 27-year-old Romanian, were convicted of arson for setting fire to a car and two houses belonging to Prime Minister Starmer. The court heard that the men were allegedly instructed and compensated by an enigmatic figure known as 'El Money,' with whom they communicated through a social media app. Investigations indicated that this individual, who communicated in Russian and had an account based in Russia, exchanged over 300 messages over approximately two years. El Money reportedly offered them £3,000 in cryptocurrency to carry out the arson, film it, and publicize the actions.
The Ukrainian defendant testified that he was unaware of Starmer's identity and the ownership of the property he targeted. He stated that his motivation was purely financial, driven by the need to afford his father's medical expenses, and claimed that he ultimately did not receive payment. The court is set to deliver the verdict on June 19.
Prosecutors did not identify additional suspects and could not establish a definitive link to the Russian government, as the charges were not directly tied to national security. However, they noted the use of tactics reminiscent of Russia's hybrid warfare strategies. British media reported that an extensive investigation pointed to Russian diplomat Yevgeny Lukshin as the orchestrator, aiming to instill fear and unrest. The Russian embassy in London denied these allegations, asserting no involvement in the incident.