Ukrainian man denies role in Starmer arson plot, court hears

A Ukrainian man accused of conspiring to set fire to a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has told the Old Bailey he was only at the crime scene after being asked to help with some "luggage". Petro Pochynok, 35, is on trial alongside fellow Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27. They deny targeting two properties and a car linked to the prime minister in May 2025. Pochynok told jurors that Sir Keir was a "friend" of Ukraine and he had not been part of a plan to target him. He is accused of being present on 8 May 2025 when a Toyota previously owned by Sir Keir was set alight. Giving evidence through a translator, Pochynok said he became involved after his long-term friend Carpiuc phoned to ask if he could help an associate - Lavrynovych - with some "heavy suitcases". Pochynok said he had only met Lavrynovych once before and they had never spoken, but he agreed to help as a favour to Carpiuc. He described setting his alarm for the early hours of the morning on 8 May and walking to a street in Kentish Town, north London, where he met Lavrynovych. "When I met him I realised he did not have any suitcases, he only had a rucksack,