Starmer arson attacks accused did not intend to endanger life, court hears

Starmer arson attacks accused did not intend to endanger life, court hears17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleOlga MalchevskaBBC Ukrainian, at the Old BaileyThe Metropolitan PoliceUkrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is one of three men accused of targeting the prime minister's properties and carA Ukrainian man accused of an arson attack on the prime minister's house said he was forced to start the fire and did not intend to endanger anyone's life, the Old Bailey has heard.Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is accused of targeting two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer, along with another Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 35, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27.Lavrynovych said that he believed there were no people at the property and that he was forced to commit arson by a Russian speaker who recruited him online."I did not want to endanger anyone's life", Lavrynovych told the jury at the Old Bailey.Giving evidence, Roman Lavrynovych said he carried out arson attacks after being recruited online by a Russian-speaking Telegram user called "El Money".However, he told the court that he "was forced to do that" after being threatened by El Money, and because he needed money for the medical treatment of his father, who is in Ukraine.All three men, who live in London, are charged with conspiring together - and "with others" - to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025.Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, is also charged with damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life on 11 and 12 May 2025 at two properties in north London connected to Sir Keir.The defendant had been offered £3,000 in cryptocurrency to set the Toyota alight, the court heard previously.Lavrynovych told the court that he hoped to find that sum in a legitimate way, but when it did not work out he agreed to take on El Money's job.He said he did not go ahead with the jo...