Man accused of Starmer arson attacks did not know he was PM, court hears

A Ukrainian man who is accused of setting fire to the prime minister's house told police he had never heard of Sir Keir Starmer, the Old Bailey has heard.

Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Petro Pochynok, 35, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, are accused of targeting two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir. They deny the charges.

Lavrynovych allegedly carried out the arson attacks after being recruited online by Russian-speaking Telegram user "El Money" who promised him payment.

During a police interview, Lavrynovych was asked several times if he knew who Sir Keir was and whether he held a grudge against him, to which he repeatedly answered no.

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.

He faces alternative counts of damaging property by fire being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

A transcript of a police interview - from 13 May 2025 - with Lavrynovych was read to jurors on Wednesday.

During the interview, a detective asked: "I just want to ask you about our prime minister. Do you know who that is?"

"No", Lavrynovych replied.

The detective responded: "You don't know who the UK prime minister is? Alright, have you heard of Keir Starmer?"

"No", said Lavrynovych.

He then answered "yes" when asked if he had heard of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The detective said: "Okay so Keir Starmer's our current prime minister, he lives in London. Do you have any thoughts about Keir Starmer and the Labour Party and the government in general?"

"No, not at all", Lavrynovych said, before saying "not really" when asked if he had any interest in British politics.

He also answered no when asked if he held "any grudges" against Sir Keir or the government.

On 8 May 2025, a Toyota car previously owned by the prime minister was found on fire on a street he previously lived on in Kentish Town, north London. Three days later, a fire was discovered at flats in nearby Islington where Sir Keir previously lived.

On 12 May 2025, a fire was discovered at the front entrance to Sir Keir's Kentish Town home - in the same street where the car was set on fire - which was being rented out to his sister-in-law.

Jurors have previously been told that, after the final fire, "El Money" messaged Lavrynovych to say: "Look, you attacked the home of a very high-ranking person in Britain. I'll send you money, you need to leave the city." Lavrynovych was arrested hours later.

When interviewed by police, Lavrynovych denied being involved in the fires, claiming he was at home on the dates of the first two incidents and visiting his friend Petro in Camden on the third.

He maintained his account after being shown data from his phone linking him to the locations.

The defendant also told officers about being offered money to set fire to the three addresses.

In a prepared statement, he said the contact had offered money to check for CCTV and given instructions about two addresses.

"He said that once done, he would pay me and I trusted him. I needed the money. He has not paid me though."

Lavrynovych also said: "I felt threatened. He threatened me by saying that I would have to do the job as he knew where I lived. I was scared as my grandmother lives at the same address and I could not be sure that he would not do anything."

He said that he did not commit arson at any address.

Carpiuc, from Romford, east London, and Pochynok, of Islington, north London, made no comment in their police interviews.

The trial continues.