June 16, 2026
Shortly after midnight on May 13, 2025, Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych messaged someone he knew as 'EL Money', a mystery figure who had instructed him to commit three arson attacks on property linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"I hope I will have an opportunity to shake your hand soon ... Be in touch," he said in a text message.
An hour later, counter-terrorism officers raided his London home and he was charged with committing arson with intent to endanger life.
With his conviction on Monday, the 22-year-old Lavrynovych joins a growing list of mainly young men, lured on social media and found guilty in Britain of carrying out serious criminal acts on behalf of shadowy online figures for money which, more often than not, they never even received.
