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Boston Globe
08-07-2025
- Boston Globe
The wild Russian plot to burn a London restaurant and kidnap its owner
The men were arrested before they carried out those orders, but not before they had completed a separate mission: setting fire to a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London in March 2024. Thousands of messages discovered by police after the group's arrest, and made public during a monthlong trial at the Old Bailey courthouse in London, provide extraordinary insight into the workings of Russian operatives paying criminal gangs to conduct espionage and sabotage operations in Europe. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said the case was a 'clear example of an organization linked to the Russian state using 'proxies' to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf.' Advertisement On Tuesday, a jury found three men guilty of arson over the warehouse fire, and convicted a fourth man of failing to tell police about the plans for Chichvarkin and his businesses. The two ringleaders of the group, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, had already admitted their roles in the extraordinary plot. The British cell started with Earl, a 21-year-old drug dealer based in the Midlands city of Leicester, who had become enamored with the Kremlin's cause and offered to build a network of 'hundreds of soldiers' to carry out its orders. Advertisement Investigators believe he contacted Russian intelligence operatives on the Telegram app through a channel associated with the Wagner Group paramilitary organization. The British government and security services assess that the group has been under the control of Russian state agencies and intelligence services since a failed 2023 coup. The Telegram channel had been posting appeals for international volunteers, directing them to contact an anonymous account for further instruction. On March 15, 2024, that account started messaging Earl. 'Hello friend,' began the exchange, before telling him: 'We would like you to help us in Europe.' The following day, a discussion ensued about potential action. Because Earl deleted records of his contributions to the conversation, only the messages from his Russian handler were presented to the court. 'You said that you have like-minded people. Tell me more details,' the Russian account asked. 'Do you have access to firearms?' it later wrote, and then, 'Excellent! That's what we need. The task on this warehouse will be our first step.' 'We need people that you have across Europe and the U.K.,' the account wrote. 'We need those who are our kindred spirits.' Within 24 hours of the Telegram chat starting, the Russian account issued its first order — an arson attack on two East London warehouses operated by a Ukrainian businessperson. Earl told Reeves, 23, a contact living in South London, to find recruits for the mission. Then, on March 20, a 22-year-old called Jakeem Rose set fire to both units using gasoline and a burning rag. The act was streamed live on FaceTime to Earl by another man, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, who recorded it on his phone. A third man, Ugnius Asmena, 20, waited in a getaway car. Advertisement Rose and Mensah admitted arson but denied they recklessly endangered lives, while Asmena pleaded not guilty on the basis that he did not know an arson attack would take place. All three were convicted of the offense of arson endangering life. The men were gone by the time that local police arrived at the burning units on an unassuming industrial estate. A body-worn camera recorded one officer asking 'What is this place?' as flames tore through the warehouses, which contained Starlink satellite equipment and other supplies to be sent to Ukraine. The fire, which caused more than 1 million pounds (about $1.36 million) in damage, was the first of what Earl's Russian handler described as 'lots of glorious jobs ahead.' 'We'll start with something simple,' the handler had promised. 'From simple to complicated.' Next on the list was kidnapping Chichvarkin, the former owner of a Russian cellphone company who has publicly criticized Putin since moving to Britain. On March 31, 2024, Earl told Reeves that there would be a 'big payment for this man if you capture him,' adding: 'You find this man, nap him, bring him to my location and I pay you there and then and we fix rest. This man needs to be exiled to Russia.' Describing where the proposed 50,000-pound payment for the kidnapping would come from, Earl posted a Russian flag emoji in the chat. He offered another 10,000 pounds for setting fire to the Hide restaurant and Hedonism Wines, both owned by Chichvarkin. Advertisement Earl asked Ashton Evans, 20, a drug-dealing contact based in Wales, to set up the arson. He noted that the targets were just minutes away from Buckingham Palace, anticipating that the fire would be 'worldwide news' and would draw in British intelligence agencies. But he assured Evans that if he 'moved clean' and deleted evidence, 'we won't have any issues ever.' Evans was convicted Tuesday of failing to report his knowledge of the restaurant plot to police. He had earlier pleaded guilty of possessing cocaine with the intent to supply it to others. As reconnaissance and preparations for the attack were carried out, Earl voiced even bigger ambitions to his Russian Telegram contact. They messaged about creating a new political 'partisan movement' in Britain, 'punishing Russian traitors,' setting more warehouses on fire, spying on the government and businesses, and obtaining leaked information databases. But their plans were cut short when Earl was arrested in the parking lot of a hardware store April 10, 2024. Earl and Reeves admitted organizing the warehouse arson. In relation to the restaurant plot, Earl pleaded guilty to preparing acts of serious violence on behalf of a foreign power, and Reeves pleaded guilty to 'agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service.' This article originally appeared in
Metro
08-07-2025
- Metro
Wagner Group 'proxies' carried out arson on Ukraine-linked warehouse in London
Three men acting on the orders of Russia's terrorist Wagner Group have been found guilty of an arson attack that resulted in around £1 million of damage to a warehouse. The 'proxies' for Vladimir Putin's regime set were apparently motivated by the lure of cash when they set two units linked to Ukraine ablaze in east London on March 20 last year. Nii Mensah, 23, livestreamed on his phone as he and Jakeem Rose, 23, set fire to the industrial unit while fixer Ugnius Asmena, 20, waited in a car, the Old Bailey was told. Dylan Earl, 20, who had established contact with the notorious private military group, orchestrated the attack along with Gatwick airport cleaner Jake Reeves, 23. They targeted the warehouse in Leyton because it was being used to supply humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine. Meeting in a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair, Earl and Reeves went on to plot more attacks and the kidnapping of the establishment's owner, the wealthy Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. They previously admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner, becoming the first defendants to be convicted of acting as proxies for the formation under the National Security Act 2023. Earl has also admitted possessing cocaine and thousands of pounds in criminal cash. Following an Old Bailey trial, Mensah, Rose and Asmena were today found guilty of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life. Driver Paul English, 61, was cleared of wrongdoing. Ashton Evans, 20, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts relating to the Mayfair plot but cleared of failing to tell authorities about the warehouse arson. Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, was cleared of two similar offences relating to both terrorist plots after the jury deliberated for nearly 22 hours. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'This case is clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using 'proxies', in this case British men, to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf. 'The ringleaders, Earl and Reeves, willingly acted as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state. 'I am pleased that, working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were able to use the new National Security Act legislation, which meant the severity of Earl and Reeves's offending was reflected in the charges they faced. The warehouse arson put members of the public at great risk, and it was only by good fortune nobody was seriously injured or worse. 'Those involved showed little or no regard for the potential impact of their actions on the UK's wider security. 'Seemingly motivated by the promise of money, they were prepared to commit criminal acts on behalf of Russia. 'I hope these convictions send a strong warning of the very serious consequences of committing offences on behalf of a foreign country.' Both businesses in the damaged units were Ukrainian-owned. Initially, local Met Officers investigated before it emerged that another warehouse in Madrid linked to one of the companies had been subject to an arson attack. Detectives from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command then took over the investigation. They gathered 'overwhelming' evidence linking the arsonists to the Leyton attack, the court was told. The trio were tracked by phone data and traffic cameras as Mr English drove them in his Kia Picanto through south London and the scene of the fire, which was covered by CCTV. More footage captured Rose and Mensah getting out of the vehicle, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouses. As they fled the scene, Rose dropped a very large knife with his DNA on it, with Mensah later messaging Reeves to say 'L9 (Rose's nickname) left his Rambo at the scene'. Sixty firefighters from eight crews had to get the blaze under control. Afterwards, Mensah messaged Earl: 'Bro there was bare smoke … You saw it on Face Time.' Later, he added: 'Bro lol it's on the news … we dun damagees [sic].' While the arsonists were motivated by the promise of money, Earl and Reeves had orchestrated it for Russia, Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC said. Earl had told a Wagner operative he met on Telegram he was keen to carry out a series of 'missions', of which the Leyton fire was to be just the first. Reeves was also prepared to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target the Russian dissident and his London-based businesses next, the jury was told. Earl admitted preparing to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping owner Mr Chichvarkin on behalf of the Wagner Group. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The court was told the two Mayfair businesses targeted by Wagner employed 200 people and were valued at more than £30 million. Mr Chichvarkin was described as a 'high-profile Russian dissident and refugee' who has been vocal in his criticism of Putin and the war in Ukraine. On April 5 2024, Reeves, from Croydon, south London, sent an unknown contact Mr Chichvarkin's name and said he would make an 'amazing target'. Earl was also in the plot, raising the possibility of 'exiling him back to Russia to face prison' according to police. In chat, Earl's Wagner contact, named Privet Bot, instructed him to watch the period drama The Americans and use it as a 'manual' for his covert mission. The television series is set during the Cold War and is about two KGB agents posing as Americans in Washington DC to spy on the American government. In further chat with Privet Bot, wholesale drug dealer Earl appeared to brag that he had criminal connections, saying he could 'sort' an introduction to the IRA and Kinahan Irish organised crime group. He was arrested in a B&Q car park in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and videos of the warehouse fire being started were found on his iPhone. In a search of his home in Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, police recovered a Russian flag, more than £20,000 in cash and cocaine hydrochloride with a street value of some £34,000. Evidence on his phone revealed details of a cryptocurrency account holding more than £58,000 and images of bundles of cash estimated to total £175,000. Following Reeves's arrest at Croydon East railway station, police uncovered videos on his phone which were taken by Mensah on the night of the arson attack. Giving evidence, Asmena, of no fixed address, denied being aware of the arson attack or hiring Mr English as the driver, telling jurors he was 'just there'. Mensah, of Thornton Heath, and Rose, from Croydon, had admitted arson and Rose also pleaded guilty to possessing a blade. However, both claimed the prosecution had failed to prove the fire had endangered life. Mr English, of Roehampton, told police upon his arrest that he had been paid £500 by Asmena to drive but knew nothing about the fire. Evans, from Newport, Gwent, told jurors that he had got in touch with Earl to buy cocaine, which he admitted having. He claimed not to take what Earl told him seriously and went along with it to get his money back after buying drugs that were not the genuine article. Aviation engineering student Mr Paulauskus, from Croydon, told jurors he had been doing work experience at an aircraft maintenance hangar, was interested in gaming and was a 'gun nerd'. More Trending Born in Lithuania, he holds a joint British and Russian passport and believed that the war with Russia was Ukraine's fault. He told jurors that he had been friends with Reeves since secondary school but did not believe anything he told him about the plots was real. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the convicted defendants would be sentenced on a date to be fixed in the autumn. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: Ex-Russian supermodel and Putin critic reveals she's on Kremlin's hitlist MORE: The shadowy Russian military firms vying for power after Wagner mutiny MORE: 'Liquidated' Prigozhin took world back to medieval-style warfare
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Sir David Murray vows to save Dalzell steel mill as he reveals masterplan
SIR David Murray vowed to be a 'big customer' of Dalzell steel mill if his masterplan to save it becomes reality. The ex-Rangers owner and metal magnate, 73, says he is ready to play a major role in providing Scottish steel for North Sea wind turbines to power the nation's future energy. 4 Sir David Murray vowed to be a 'big customer' of Dalzell steel mill Credit: Andrew Barr 4 The plant in Motherwell is currently mothballed due to cheap Chinese steel imports and a drought in orders Credit: Getty 4 Some 140 workers were furloughed or placed on maintenance duties in April this year Credit: Reuters 4 New Liberty owner Sanjeev Gupta with Nicola Sturgeon Credit: Alan Ewing The plant in Motherwell is currently mothballed due to cheap Chinese steel imports and a drought in orders, with some 140 workers furloughed or placed on maintenance duties in April this year. Sir David has been in talks with Holyrood ministers for a decade over halting the industry's decline. He has now revealed he has held hush-hush negotiations with the UK Government to rescue the mill. His latest intervention comes after PM Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray blasted SNP ministers in May for allowing the nation's last remaining steel plants — Dalzell and Clydebridge in Cambuslang — to cease production. The Scottish Government orchestrated a takeover of the sites in 2016, putting taxpayers' cash on the line. And Sir Keir insisted last month it was important to 'get those plants up and running again'. Now Sir David has told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: 'There is a lot of political stuff going on over Dalzell. I've been heavily involved in trying to save the plate mill. 'I have spoken to the British Government in the last week and there's a meeting in a few weeks' time. 'The workforce has stayed at home for months and got 80 per cent of their wages. But it could be sorted in a week. We need people in management to work with me. 'I'd be the chairman, I'd help the management, I'd help the business, we'd be a big customer. Former Rangers owner Sir David Murray vows to save Dalzell steel mill with masterplan 'At the time it closed, I was one of its biggest customers. 'At our peak we'd be selling 550,000 tonnes of steel a year. 'That's five Forth rail bridges in weight. Today it's just over one because the fabrication business is diminishing — it's ridiculous that Britain does not have the capacity to roll a steel plate.' Sir David told how there is one mill in the north-east of England which is Ukrainian-owned. He went on: 'The wind turbines being made for the North Sea are much bigger now. 'It's a heavier plate, ideal for Dalzell. There are 50,000 tonnes of steel coming to Teesside this week from Korea to be made into turbines. 'The Scottish Government don't own one wind turbine. Look at the cost of energy. We are buying power from other people who put in these turbines. We need to create growth, jobs and prosperity in this country.' We told last July of fears the Dalzell operation would be mothballed amid a slowdown in work. A report in March by the Community Union, which represents workers at the two plants, said low-cost steel from China and high UK energy prices were hitting British steel production. The union said Dalzell needed investment to become a 'world-leading producer' of a key turbines component. Sir David has long called for an inquiry into the Scottish Government's involvement in the 2016 sale of the Lanarkshire plants to tycoon Sanjeev Gupta and Liberty Steel. The sale was backed by a £7million loan from Scottish Enterprise. MURRAY'S HEART SCARE OP EXCLUSIVE by Rodger Hannah SIR David Murray has lifted the lid on a secret heart op after he was diagnosed with a potentially-fatal medical condition. The businessman fell ill shortly before selling Rangers to Craig Whyte in 2011 — to be told he had an aortic aneurysm. He revealed: 'I was driving home over the Forth Road Bridge and I thought I was having a heart attack. I went into Dunfermline Hospital. I had a scan. It's basically your main blood vessel and the aneurysm makes it expand. 'If it bursts, you've got about half an hour.' Sir David believes the pressure of Rangers' financial issues and the global recession could have contributed to his health scare. He added: 'They told me I needed an operation, which I had in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. 'I shared the information with Craig Brown a few years ago. 'He had an identical thing. His burst but they managed to get him in on time.' Former Scotland manager Brown needed life-saving surgery in 2020. He told the Scottish Sun at the time: 'They say only about three out of ten survive it.' Brown died in 2023 aged 82. But Sir David claims ministers rejected his rival bid because it was potentially incompatible with state aid rules, and has criticised Mr Gupta's management since. He said: 'Ten years ago, I met the Scottish Government and the First Minister [Nicola Sturgeon]. I put a proposal to them and I was told they couldn't do it because they couldn't give state aid. 'Then they lent somebody else £7million who hasn't paid it back.' Mr Gupta, executive chairman of GFG Alliance which owns Liberty Steel, is being prosecuted by Companies House for failing to file accounts for more than 70 companies listed in Britain. He denies any wrongdoing. Ayr-born Sir David spoke exclusively ahead of this Thursday's July publication of his autobiography 'Mettle: Tragedy, Courage and Titles. He remains chair of his family firm, Murray Capital Group, albeit his son, also David, runs day-to-day operations as managing director. He reveals in his new book that some of his teenage grandkids have already attended board meetings. He added: 'There is an opportunity for young people but you better come to the table with a skill. 'You're not coming, as my great friend Sean Connery said, as a member of The Lucky Sperm Club.' The UK Government confirmed Sir David had met with MP Ian Murray. A source said: 'David Murray has met Ian Murray to discuss his concerns about the Dalzell works being mothballed because the SNP cut a bad deal. We encourage the SNP Government to take advantage of the trade deals the UK Labour Government has cut and the industrial strategy which present a huge opportunity for Scottish steel.' Liberty Steel declined to comment. The Scottish Government said its 2016 intervention 'sustained over 100 jobs at Dalzell and retained steelmaking capacity in Scotland.' Scottish Enterprise confirmed: 'We remain in discussion with Liberty Steel regarding repayment of the loan funding.'
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Four men ‘torched Ukrainian-owned firm in UK on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group'
Top cops said they were paid agents motivated by 'good old-fashioned greed' 'ARSON GANG' Four men 'torched Ukrainian-owned firm in UK on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOUR men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group, a court has heard. Goods including Starlink satellite equipment were being sent out to Kyiv from the targeted industrial estate unit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Around £1million in damage was caused when it was set alight in Leyton, East London, in March last year. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, are said to have started the blaze. The Old Bailey was told that CCTV placed them driving to the scene in English's Kia Picanto. Jurors heard Rose and Mensah were seen climbing a wall to approach the warehouse, while Mensah also livestreamed the arson. READ MORE ON UKRAINE WAR BRIDGE BLAST Ukraine spec ops blast Putin's Crimean Bridge with bombs 'planted MONTHS ago' Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said they were paid agents motivated by 'good old-fashioned greed'. He added: 'They did not act alone . . . they were recruited by and directed by two others who have since admitted their role in the aggravated arson. 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality at the behest of foreign influence.' Mr Penny said 'they may have been ignorant' that they had been recruited on behalf of the Vladimir Putin-controlled Wagner Group. The four deny aggravated arson. The trial continues. Full devastation of Op Spiderweb revealed as new pics show Putin's jets in RUINS after drone blitz
The Irish Sun
04-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Four men ‘torched Ukrainian-owned firm in UK on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group'
FOUR men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group, a court has heard. Goods including Starlink satellite equipment were being sent out to Advertisement Around £1million in damage was caused when it was set alight in Leyton, East London, in March last year. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, are said to have started the blaze. The Old Bailey was told that CCTV placed them driving to the scene in English's Kia Picanto. Jurors heard Rose and Mensah were seen climbing a wall to approach the warehouse, while Mensah also livestreamed the arson. Advertisement READ MORE ON UKRAINE WAR Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said they were paid agents motivated by 'good old-fashioned greed'. He added: 'They did not act alone . . . they were recruited by and directed by two others who have since admitted their role in the aggravated arson. 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality at the behest of foreign influence.' Mr Penny said 'they may have been ignorant' that they had been recruited on behalf of the Vladimir Putin-controlled Advertisement Most read in The Sun The four deny aggravated arson. The trial continues. Full devastation of Op Spiderweb revealed as new pics show Putin's jets in RUINS after drone blitz 1 Four men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of the Putin-controlled Wagner Group, a court has heard Credit: AP
