On March 20, 2024, a significant incident involving arson shook a warehouse in Leyton, East London. This act was orchestrated by two small-time criminals from South London, who, rather than being driven by ideological motives, acted purely out of financial desperation. They were essentially hired hands, referred to in court as “road men,” working indirectly for the notorious Wagner Group, a mercenary organization that has become a tool of the Russian state. Their connection to Wagner came through Dylan Earl, a minor drug dealer from Leicestershire, who was found to have orchestrated the fire that resulted in a staggering £1 million worth of damage.
The scheme surrounding the arson unfolded through a series of messages on the secure messaging app Telegram, where Earl engaged with pro-Russian accounts. He expressed interest in potentially fighting for Russia, indicating a willingness to make drastic life changes. However, just days before the arson, Earl received instructions from a Telegram account linked to the Wagner Group, known as Privet Bot, tasking him with attacking specific buildings in the UK, which they alleged were supporting Ukrainian “terrorists.”
The plan materialized quickly; Earl facilitated the hiring of young criminals who had never met him before, including Jake Reeves and Nii Mensah. Communication among the conspirators often featured coded language and shorthand, a common tactic to evade detection. On the night of the attack, four individuals, including 61-year-old Paul English, embarked in a vehicle toward the targeted Cromwell Industrial Estate in Leyton. Among them were 19-year-old Ugnius Asmena and the two younger accomplices, Mensah and Jakeem Rose.
Upon reaching the warehouses, which were utilized by businesses supplying goods to Ukraine, Mensah and Rose took action. They gathered supplies, including a jerry can filled with petrol, and proceeded to set the warehouse ablaze, all while Mensah streamed the incident live via FaceTime, keeping Earl informed of their progress. Unfortunately for the perpetrators, Rose mistakenly left behind a knife inscribed with his DNA at the scene.
The immediate aftermath of the fire was chaotic. Yevhen Harasym, a driver parked nearby, attempted to extinguish the flames but ultimately was forced to retreat as the fire spread uncontrollably. The blaze ravaged important communications equipment meant for use in Ukraine, emphasizing the destructive potential of the criminals’ actions. As the situation unfolded, Earl boasted to his contacts about the success of the operation, only to be met with disappointment from his Wagner handlers who criticized the lack of coordination in the attack.
In the ensuing days, the Wagner affiliates maintained contact with Earl, revealing a broader strategy that extended beyond the singular warehouse attack. Earl was tasked with further assaults across London, including targeting a wine shop and a restaurant owned by exiled Russian businessman Evgeny Chichvarkin. The latter had been actively sending aid to Ukraine, making him a target due to his perceived betrayal of Russian interests. Chichvarkin, who had previously built a lucrative mobile phone retail empire, found himself in a precarious position after his connections in Russia soured following his emigration.
Eventually, law enforcement intervened, and Earl was arrested along with several others involved in the plot. The legal repercussions were severe: Earl pleaded guilty to charges of preparing acts of violence on behalf of a foreign power and aggravated arson. Other accomplices faced similar consequences, with convictions spanning various offenses ranging from arson to failing to report potential terrorist acts.
The case highlighted not only the growing influence of foreign entities like the Wagner Group in orchestrating criminal activities within the UK but also the vulnerabilities among youth drawn into such operations. In particular, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command acknowledged the shifting approach to state threats from Russia, emphasizing how individuals like Earl had become unwitting pawns in a larger game of geopolitical maneuvering, resulting in severe ramifications for both the perpetrators and their intended targets.
