Three men have been found guilty of an arson attack on a London warehouse linked to Ukraine, commissioned by the proscribed terrorist Wagner Group.
The Old Bailey heard that about £1million worth of damage was caused by the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March.
Nii Mensah, 23, livestreamed the incident on his phone as he and Jakeem Rose, 23, set the building alight while Ugnius Asmena, 20, waited in a car.
The trio were on trial at the Old Bailey before a decision was handed down by a jury on Tuesday afternoon.
Dylan Earl, 20, alongside Gatwick airport cleaner Jake Reeves, 23, had orchestrated the attack on behalf of the Wagner Group, with the warehouse used to supply humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine.
Earl and Reeves plotted more arson attacks in a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair and the kidnapping of the owner, Russian dissident, Evgeny Chichvarkin.
The court heard the pair were the first to be convicted of offences under the National Security Act 2023 after they admitted to aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group.
Earl also admitted to possessing cocaine and thousands of pounds in criminal cash.
Court artist drawing of (front row, left to right) Nii Mensah, 23, Paul English, 61, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, and (back left) Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, and Ashton Evans, 20, (back right) appearing at the Old Bailey, central London in connection with an alleged arson plot on Wednesday June 4, 2025.
PA WIRE
Following jury deliberation, Mensah, Rose and Asmena were found guilty of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life.
Paul English, 61, was cleared of wrongdoing.
Ashton Evans, 20, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts in relation to the Mayfair plot.
He was, however, not guilty of failing to tell authorities about the warehouse arson.
Jake Reeves, 23 livestreamed setting fire to a business that supplied Starlink satellite equipment to UkraineMETROPOLITAN POLICE/PA WIRE
Dylan Earl, 20, who, along with Jake Reeves, 23, livestreamed setting fire to a business that supplied Starlink satellite equipment to UkraineMETROPOLITAN POLICE/PA WIREAnother man, Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, was cleared of two similar offences, relating to both terrorists' plots, with the jury deliberating for nearly 22 hours.
It is the first case to result in convictions of British criminals acting as proxies for the proscribed Wagner Group.
Met’s Counter Terrorism Commander Dominic Murphy said the case was a “clear example” of an organisation, linked to the Russian state, using “proxies”.
“In this case British men, (used) to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf,” he said.
“The ringleaders, Earl and Reeves, willingly acted as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state.”
Murphy said he was “pleased” that, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, they were able to use the new legislation to properly reflect the severity of charges they faced.
“Those involved showed little or no regard for the potential impact of their actions on the UK’s wider security,” he said.
“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.”
Jurors had earlier heard “overwhelming” evidence that linked the arsonists to the attack, including through phone data and traffic cameras, as English drove them in his Kia Picanto.
Further footage showed Rose and Mensah exiting the car, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouse, the court heard.
As they fled the scene, Rose dropped a large knife with his DNA on it.
The fire took eight fire crews, including 60 firefighters, to settle the blaze.
Mensah messaged Earl after the attack, saying “bro there was bare smoke” and “lol it’s on the news ... we dun damagees”. (sic)
Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC said that while the arsonists were motivated by the promise of money, it was ultimately orchestrated for Russia.
Earl had told a Wagner Group operative, whom he met on Telegram, he was keen to do more “missions” - Leyton was to be the first of many.
The jury was told Reeves was also prepared to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target Chichvarkin and his business next.
Chichvarkin has been described as a “high-profile Russian dissident and refugee” who has been vocal in his criticism of President Vladimir Putin and the Ukraine war.
During a string of arrests last year, police found videos of the arson attacks, which had been taken by Mensah.
During evidence in court, Asmena denied being aware of the arson attack or hiring English to drive, telling jurors he was “just there”.
Mensah, however, admitted arson. Rose pleaded guilty to possessing a blade. But both claimed the prosecution failed to prove the fire had endangered life.
Justice Cheema-Grubb said the convicted defendants would be sentenced at a later date.
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