A Ukrainian man has admitted setting fire to a car that once belonged to Labour leader Keir Starmer, claiming he was coerced by a man using the pseudonym El Money. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is one of three accused of arson attacks on a vehicle and two houses in London tied to the Prime Minister.
Lavrynovych appeared at the Old Bailey court, where he pleaded guilty to arson and admitted receiving £3,000 to set fire to the car. He claimed that the man behind El Money was 'powerful' and had threatened him if he did not comply.
The court heard that Lavrynovych had been recruited by another defendant, Stanislav Carpiuc, to carry out the arson attacks. Petro Pochynok is also accused of being involved in the attacks.
It is unclear what motivated the arson attacks, but they are believed to be politically motivated. The UK Government has not commented on the case, but Labour have expressed concern over the incidents.
The Foreign Office has advised British nationals to exercise caution when travelling to Ukraine, citing the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, it is unclear whether there is any direct link between the conflict and the arson attacks in London.
Lavrynovych's guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it is likely that the other defendants will face similar charges. The implications of the case are still unclear, but it highlights the potential for politically motivated violence in the UK.