UK DEPORTS MAN CONVICTED IN KEIR STARMER ARSON PLOT

The Home Office said on Friday that it had deported Stanislav Carpiuc after his conviction over an arson plot targeting property linked to Sir Keir Starmer. A court found Carpiuc, a Romanian national, guilty of conspiracy to damage property by fire. He received a two-year prison sentence in May. His friend Roman Lavrynovych received a seven-year sentence after his conviction for setting fire to two properties and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

An Old Bailey trial heard that Lavrynovych set fire to a Toyota RAV4 once owned by the former prime minister before setting fire to the front doors of two north London houses in May last year. Starmer’s sister-in-law, Judith Alexander, occupied one of the houses after he moved to Downing Street. A company previously linked to Starmer managed the other property, in Islington. The court heard that an anonymous Telegram user called El Money instructed Lavrynovych and offered him £3,000 in cryptocurrency if he filmed the fires and they appeared in the news. Carpiuc supported and encouraged Lavrynovych and planned to help convert the promised payment into cash.

The anonymous account reportedly had links to a Russian online sabotage network. The Home Office said Carpiuc’s deportation means he is subject to a ban on re-entering the UK. A Home Office spokesperson called the attacks “abhorrent” and said the convictions should send a message to people offered money by strangers. “You will be caught and face severe consequences,” the spokesperson said.