**Three Men Found Guilty in London Arson Plot Linked to Russia’s Wagner Group**
On July 8, three men were convicted of their roles in an arson attack on Ukraine-linked businesses in London. The British authorities believe the attacks were orchestrated by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.
At the center of the case is Dylan Earl, a 21-year-old who had already pleaded guilty to aggravated arson for his role in the 2024 blaze targeting companies supplying Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite equipment to Ukraine. This equipment is vital to Ukraine’s communications and defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Earl was also found guilty of plotting to attack a wine shop and restaurant in London’s upscale Mayfair district, as well as kidnapping its owner – a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He became the first person convicted under the U.K.’s National Security Act for these crimes.
**Other Defendants Also Found Guilty**
Two other men, Jake Reeves, 23, and Earl’s associate, also pleaded guilty to aggravated arson. Reeves admitted to receiving a material benefit from a foreign intelligence agency, which is believed to be linked to Russia’s Wagner Group.
A jury at London’s Old Bailey court convicted three additional men – Nii Kojo Mensah, Jakeem Rose, and Ugnius Asmena – of aggravated arson. They had denied the charges.
However, Paul English, 61, was acquitted of all charges. Two other defendants, Ashton Evans and Dmitrijus Paulauskas, were charged with failing to disclose knowledge of terrorist activity, but Evans was convicted on one count while Paulauskas was acquitted.
**Police Confident in Link to Wagner Group**
Commander Dominic Murphy of the London Metropolitan Police said he was confident that the attacks were carried out by Russia’s Wagner Group. The U.K. has designated the group as a terrorist organization.
Prosecutors presented evidence, including hundreds of encrypted messages exchanged between Earl and a supposed Wagner handler using the alias “Privet Bot” on Telegram.
**Russian Embassy Denies Involvement**
The Russian Embassy in London denied any involvement in the warehouse attack, accusing the British government of blaming Russia for domestic issues. The Kremlin has consistently rejected accusations of sabotage and espionage despite growing evidence and convictions tied to Russian-linked operations across Europe.
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