Two men convicted in arson attacks on properties linked to UK prime minister
A court found two men guilty of carrying out arson attacks last year on a car and properties connected to the prime minister. Evidence presented in court showed the attacks were directed by a handler using the name EL or EL Money.
A UK court convicted two men of carrying out arson attacks last year on a car and properties linked to the prime minister. The attacks targeted a Toyota RAV4 in Kentish Town on 8 May, the door of a flat in Islington on 11 May, and the prime minister's constituency home on 12 May 2025.
Evidence of external direction Court records showed the two men were directed by a handler identified only as EL or EL Money. Neither man knew the identity of the target, according to evidence presented during the trial. Messages recovered by investigators indicated the handler offered Russian citizenship in exchange for further attacks and expressed support for Russian leadership.
Investigation into the handler The BBC reported that evidence points to a 23-year-old Russian diplomat named Evgeny Lyukshin as the person using the EL identity. The report stated Lyukshin created an online group called Direct Action that used Moscow timestamps and Cyrillic characters.
The same report said Lyukshin had previously created another online group called Takbir Foundation that sought to recruit people for graffiti in conservative areas.
authorities have privately concluded that Russian operatives were behind the attacks, according to sources cited by the BBC. After the BBC contacted Lyukshin, several Telegram channels linked to the operation disappeared, the report stated.
