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The Independent
16 hours ago
- The Independent
Jury out in Wagner Group arson trial
Jurors have retired in the trial of a group of men accused of setting fire to a warehouse linked with Ukraine for the proscribed Wagner Group. Around £1 million of damage was caused in an arson attack on an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey has heard. The building was targeted because it was being used by a firm sending humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine, it is alleged. The attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20, and Jake Reeves, 23, who have admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and an offence under the National Security Act, jurors heard. It is alleged that they recruited a group of men to carry out the attack as part of a series of planned missions for the terrorist group. Paul English, 61, allegedly drove to the warehouse in his Kia Picanto with Jakeem Rose, 23, Nii Mensah, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20. Mensah and Rose were captured on CCTV and livestreamed video as they set the warehouse on fire before they made off, it is claimed. Asmena and Rose, from Croydon; Mensah, of Thornton Heath, south London; and English, of Roehampton, south-west London, have denied aggravated arson relating to the warehouse fire. Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Reeves, of Croydon, have additionally admitted plots to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping their owner on behalf of the Wagner Group, the court heard. Two other defendants, Ashton Evans, 20, from Newport, Gwent, and Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, from Croydon, are each charged with two counts of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, which they deny. At 3.30pm on Tuesday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sent jurors out to start deliberating on verdicts.
The Independent
16-06-2025
- The Independent
Wagner Group arson accused ‘scared' by news of ‘Russian terrorism', court told
A homeless man has admitted being at the scene of a fire at warehouse used in the Ukraine war effort – but told jurors he got 'scared' when he learned it was linked to ' Russian terrorism'. Around £1 million of damage was caused in an arson attack on an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey was told. The building was targeted because it was being used by a firm sending humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine, it is alleged. The attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20, and Jake Reeves, 23, who have admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and an offence under the National Security Act, jurors heard. It is alleged that they recruited a group of men to carry out the attack as part of a series of planned missions for the terrorist group. Paul English, 61, allegedly drove to the warehouse in his Kia Picanto with Jakeem Rose, 23, Nii Mensah, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20. Mensah and Rose were captured on CCTV and livestreamed video as they set the warehouse on fire before they made off, it is claimed. On Monday, Asmena gave evidence in their Old Bailey trial after English, Mensah and Rose declined to go into the witness box. Asmena, of no fixed address, admitted being at the scene but claimed he only learned later there had been a fire linked to Russia that night. He claimed English offered him £500 in cash to go with him in the car saying it would be 'simple and easy'. He insisted he was in the dark about what was going on, having been instructed only to two open car doors and then not say anything afterwards. The defendant, who claimed he was never paid, told jurors: 'After searching on Google I have seen some fire brigade calls. I have seen there is a fire in this place. That was the first time I learned about the fire. Obviously I was there. 'After a while – three or four weeks – I have seen another article. It talked about national security, Russian terrorism.' Defence barrister Philip Romans asked what he thought at the time. The defendant replied that he realised it was the same location he had been in but he did not recognise the names of those arrested. The defendant was detained by police last August at an address in Clapham, south London, where he was 'sofa surfing'. The court was told that in his first police interview he told a number of lies. Mr Romans said: 'You denied presence at the scene. You said you had been with your mother that evening. 'You also said you had never been in a Kia Picanto. You were shown a clip and you said 'it's not me' and you denied knowing Mr English. Why didn't you tell the truth?' The defendant replied: 'When I was looking at the articles online, one of the articles was talking about national security and I realised I was there. 'Talking about it on the news, talking about Russian agents. I was just there. 'They started talking about terrorism. I was just there. I started to get so scared they were talking about terrorist groups, national security, Russian agents.' The defendant said he declined to answer questions in a second interview on the advice of his solicitor. Mr Romans said: 'At any time on March 20 last year were you part of a plan to set fire to a warehouse in Leyton?' The defendant replied: 'I did not know any of the people involved. No, I was not involved.' Under cross-examination, Asmena denied he was the one who had recruited English to be the driver and given him £250 having already been paid for the job. When a jerry can was filled up at a petrol station on route to Leyton, Asmena said he thought the people he was with had planned to steal a car. Asmena, Rose, from Croydon, Mensah, of Thornton Heath, south London, and English, of Roehampton, south-west London, have denied aggravated arson relating to the warehouse fire. Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Reeves, of Croydon, have additionally admitted plots to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping their owner on behalf of the Wagner Group, the court heard. Two other defendants, Ashton Evans, 20, from Newport, Gwent, and Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, from Croydon, are each charged with two counts of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, which they deny. The Old Bailey trial continues.
Sunday World
06-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man hired to burn down warehouse for Wagner Group wanted to link ‘Kinahans' in with Russia
The Old Bailey heard how Dylan Earl had grand ambitions to 'build a link' between the IRA, the Kinahans and Russia, as he declared: 'We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do something big' A court has heard how a man hired by the terrorist Wagner Group to burn down a warehouse linked to Ukraine boasted about linking up the IRA and the Kinahan crime cartel with Russian agents. Leicestershire man Dylan Earl has admitted orchestrating an arson attack on the warehouse in east London last year, as well as plotting to burn down Mayfair businesses and kidnapping their Russian dissident owner. Described as the 'architect' of the scheme, the Old Bailey heard how 20-year-old Earl had grand ambitions to 'build a link' between the IRA, the Kinahans and Russia, as he declared: 'We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do something big.' Earl, who had been recruited by the terrorist group that was conducting a sabotage campaign on behalf of Russian intelligence, has admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group on the warehouse in Leyton, East London. The fire destroyed over £100,000 worth of equipment, including generators and vital satellite equipment destined for Ukraine. Jurors at the Old Bailey were shown chats between Earl, of Elmesthorpe, near Hinckley, and a Wagner Group contact identified by the handle Privet Bot, on Telegram. Dylan Earl News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 The day before the arson attack, Privet Bot instructed Earl to watch the television series The Americans, about KGB agents undercover in the US, "in order to understand (the) work". The court was told how Earl allegedly roped in Jake Reeves (23) from Croydon, south London, to help recruit people to carry out the arson attack on the warehouse. Earl also revealed his plans to Ashton Evans (20) from Newport, Gwent, on Signal, Snapchat and mobile phone messages, it is alleged. Four men accused of carrying out the arson attack, Jakeem Rose (23), Ugnius Asmena (20), Nii Mensah (23) and Paul English (61) were told to live stream it to Earl so he could report back to the Russians on the success of the 'mission'. The four have denied aggravated arson relating to the warehouse fire. Jake Reeves (23) from Croydon, south London The blaze at 11.40pm on March 20 last year started with a jerry can of petrol and caused more than £1 million in damage to the premises, which was targeted because of its connection to Ukraine, with the warehouse being used to store StarLink satellite equipment and humanitarian aid bound for the war zone. However, Russia refused to pay the arsonists because the blaze wasn't up to the Wagner Group's 'standards', the court heard, as the arsonists made a series of errors, forgetting to film the attack and having to return to the scene where they were captured on CCTV. Reeves, from Croydon, South London, who has already admitted his part in the conspiracy, later complained: 'They were supposed to make it burn.. but they just ran in there.' Two days after the attack, Earl admitted he was 'waiting on payment still, apparently it'll land today but it's nowhere near the amount because they didn't burn the whole thing'. The following day, the court was told Evans had asked Earl: "Did you light it up?" before discussing the plot to burn down Hide restaurant and Hedonism wine shop in Mayfair, snatch the owner and hand him over to Russia. On April 1 2024, Earl asked Evans to delete their chats and asked if he could make connections with the IRA or the Irish Kinahan crime family. Earl suggested he wanted to "build a link" between the Kinahans and Russia, saying: "We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do suin (something) big." After his arrest, Evans claimed he did not take the chat seriously, having jokingly told Earl: "And this is all in Minecraft (the computer game) right?" He also claimed in a police interview that he was just stringing Earl along to get a refund for £300 of fake cocaine he had bought. Both Earl and Reeves have pleaded guilty to aggravated arson of the east London warehouse and an offence under the National Security Act. Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, told jurors: 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality - at the behest of foreign influence. 'In the case of these defendants at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial - good old-fashioned greed. 'For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.' The case continues.
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Telegraph
Wagner Group told British proxy to use KGB drama ‘as manual'
The Wagner Group told a British proxy to use a TV drama about KGB spies in the US 'as a manual', a court heard. Dylan Earl, 20, has admitted orchestrating an arson attack on an east London warehouse and plotting to burn down Mayfair businesses, kidnapping their Russian dissident owner last year, following help from the Russian-backed terrorist group. On Thursday, jurors at the Old Bailey saw a chat between Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and a Wagner Group contact identified by the handle Privet Bot on Telegram. The day before the arson attack, Privet Bot instructed Earl to watch the television series The Americans, about KGB agents undercover in the US, 'in order to understand work'. Privet Bot said: 'The idea is like that. You need to organise partisan cells in the country and in Europe and think of a name for your movement. We'll give you support... 'Watch this series. It will be your manual. You'll have a source of funding through organising arsons.' The court has heard how Earl allegedly roped in Jake Reeves, 23, from Croydon, London, to help recruit people to carry out the arson attack on the warehouse. Earl also revealed his plans to Ashton Evans, 20, from Newport, Gwent, on Signal, Snapchat and mobile phone messages, it is alleged. They had initially communicated about drug dealing, with Earl adopting the name of a notorious Russian 'hitman', the court was told. Mr Evans was allegedly aware that Earl had orchestrated the warehouse arson attack. Three days after the fire, which caused £1 million of damage, Mr Evans asked: 'Did you light it up?' the court was told. They went on to discuss the plot to burn down Hide restaurant and Hedonism wine shop in Mayfair, snatch the owner and hand him over to Russia. Earl warned there would be a 'good amount of heat after this' and it would be 'on every news channel and radio in our country'. Mr Evans allegedly replied: 'Yes, I can sort if there is a way we can do so without people getting hurt cause that's when the police will take very very serious - like [terror] level serious.' Stressing the need for security, Earl told him: 'It will be a huge thing and every single spy agency trying to find who did it so careful ok.' Mr Evans agreed that it would 'bring a lot of attention MI5 etc', the court heard. On April 1 2024, Earl asked Mr Evans to delete their chats and asked if he could make connections with the IRA or the Irish Kinahan crime family. Earl suggested he wanted to 'build a link' between the Kinahans and Russia, saying: 'We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do suin [something] big.' After his arrest, Mr Evans claimed he did not take the chat seriously, having jokingly told Earl: 'And this is all in mine craft, right?' He also claimed in a police interview that he was just stringing Earl along to get a refund for £300 of fake cocaine he had bought, the court was told. Earl and Reeves have pleaded guilty to aggravated arson of the east London warehouse and an offence under the National Security Act. The court was told that Reeves had revealed details of their plans to another contact, Dmitrijus Paulauskas, having described Earl as 'Russian mafia'. On the kidnap plot, Reeves allegedly told Mr Paulauskas that the idea was to 'get him sent back to Russia for imprisonment'. Paulauskas, 23, from Croydon, allegedly responded to Wagner Group activity on UK soil with glee, saying: 'I'm so f------ gassed cos that means the west has already have already u r allowed to call urself (sic) Russian now.' The defendant, who was later to claim that he took none of it seriously, allegedly responded to the warehouse attack by saying: 'Holy f--- so Wagner literally has UK gangs doing their work.' Shortly before their arrests, the men pondered why Earl – 'the Russian guy' – had not been on Snapchat for five days. Mr Paulauskas suggested he was busy in his job 'sabotaging UK'. Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC told jurors that by then Earl had been in custody for nine days. He said: 'The position is clear: Reeves told Mr Paulauskas about the plan to kidnap the target, who had sent money to Ukraine and who was to be sent back to Russia, and about the fact that the attack on the east London warehouse.' Mr Penny added that the realisation there was foreign interference by the Wagner group on British soil through the use of 'UK criminals as proxies', seemed to have been a matter of 'quite some pleasure' to Mr Paulauskas. Mr Evans and Mr Paulauskas have each denied two charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, which they deny.
Sky News
05-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Arsonist told to watch spy drama by Russian mercenary group before fire, court told
A man who has admitted to aggravated arson at a Ukraine-linked warehouse was told to watch a Cold War spy drama as his "manual", the Old Bailey has heard. The Russian mercenary Wagner group allegedly recommended that Dylan Earl, 20, "please see" The Americans - a show where undercover spies carry out dangerous missions for the Soviet Union - to "understand" the work better, the jury was told. Prosecutors say that Earl was "knowingly acting at the behest" of Wagner - a private military contractor linked to Russia, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation - who "commissioned the arson attack" in Leyton, East London, on 20 March 2024. The arson attack took place at an industrial unit supplying StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine, and caused around £1m of damage. Earl pleaded guilty to arson and 'preparatory conduct' - actively planning a crime - after being arrested in April last year. Before his arrest, the prosecution says Earl, on behalf of Wagner Group, also planned arson attacks on two businesses - a wine shop called Hedonism, and a restaurant called HIDE - in Mayfair, as well as the kidnap of the businesses' owner, a Russian dissident. The Americans The jury was told Earl had been sent details about the TV spy drama on 19 March - the day before the arson attack. Duncan Penny KC, prosecuting, said Earl had been tasked by Telegram user Privet Bot to watch the show. "Will you please see the serial Americans", one message read. "I recommend to watch it in order to understand work", read another. The next day - the day of the fire - other messages from 'Privet Bot' invited Earl to form a "movement", which it would offer "support" to. The messages also urged Earl to "watch this [The Americans] series" - adding "it will be your manual". Ashton Evans Mr Penny said Earl subsequently sent a message on Snapchat to one of the defendants, Ashton Evans, on 28 March 2024 with two words: "The Americans". The prosecution claims Earl was giving Evans a similar instruction to watch the show. Evans, 20, who is charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, was in contact with Earl, "the architect of these offences", across three messaging platforms: iMessage chat, Snapchat and Signal, the court heard. He is accused of being aware of the Leyton arson before it occurred, the Mayfair plots and knowing that Earl was acting on the instructions of the Wagner Group. Evans admitted using the name 'Alexander Solonik' on Signal, Mr Penny said, explaining that the individual was reputed to be a Russian gangster, known for his reputation as a notorious hitman in the Russian criminal underworld. Kidnap plot Citing messages between Evans and Earl on 26 March 2024, Mr Penny said Evans had messaged to ask for details about the kidnap plot. "Send deets", Mr Penny read from the court bundle, quoting Evans, "they only paying 40k for a man worth a billion". The reference to "a man worth a billion", Mr Penny explained, is likely to be to the owner of Hide and Hedonism. The court heard that Earl and Evans exchanged further messages about the Mayfair plot on 30 March 2024, and Earl had explained it was a "wine shop" with "20 million pounds of stock". Another message read: "Obviously maybe only 1-2 million damnged (sic) but it be insured". "The thing is", another message acknowledged, "There's houses above", around "120ft nbove (sic)", and so recommended: "maybe we find a way so no one harmed." "But clean only bro", the prosecution quoted Earl texting, "Because there will be a good amount of heat after this it will be on every news channel and radio in our country". Four other men are on trial at the Old Bailey - Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, both from Thornton Heath, South London, Paul English, 61, from Roehampton, South London, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, of no fixed abode - deny aggravated arson. Ashton Evans and Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 22, both from Newport, Gwent, deny failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. Duncan Penny KC, prosecuting, told the court the defendants "may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial - good old-fashioned greed".
