Russia-backed arson attack ringleaders handed hefty jail sentences in UK

The Wagner Group, a Russian-funded private military company, was the two young ringleaders of an organization that carried out arson attacks in the United Kingdom on behalf of a Russian-funded private military firm. A British judge has sentenced them to lengthy jail terms.

The 21-year-olds Jake Reeves, 24, and Dylan Earl, 21, both of whom had been linked to Russia’s infamous Wagner mercenary group, which has been accused of war crimes including murder, torture, and rape, conspired against them to “a sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage on UK soil,” according to the prosecution on Friday.

For “leading role” in planning several attacks, including one in March last year when a London warehouse storing humanitarian aid and Starlink satellite equipment destined for Ukraine was set on fire, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb gave Earl a 17-year prison sentence, with a further six years on extended license.

The 21-year-old was accused of having discussed with his Wagner handler plans to kidnap Revolut’s cofounder during the trial and to torch a Czech Republic warehouse.

Earl was discovered using the messaging app Telegram and being in contact with Wagner members when police searched his phone and discovered videos of the east London warehouse fire being started.

17 years in prison.

Dylan Earl, one of five men who were part of a Russian-ordered arson attack on a warehouse in Leyton, was found guilty through surveillance, phone calls, and forensic evidence.

Around £1 million was damaged as a result of the fire, which included aid traveling to Ukraine. pic. twitter.com/m96hNx6fO2

Reeves, a 24 year old fellow defendant, was given a 12-year prison sentence and an additional year on an extended license for his role in recruiting other men to join the Wagner-backed attacks.

The pair are the first individuals to be found guilty under the UK’s new National Security Act, which was amended to replace previous anti-espionage legislation to combat threats from international powers in the 21st century.

Russian-backed “hostile agents”

According to Dominic Murphy, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, Earl and Reeves “astrated willingly as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state.”

“This case is a clear illustration of a group connected to the Russian state using ‘proxies’, in this case, British men, to carry out very serious criminal activity in their name,” Murphy said.

The use of “proxies” is a new tactic favored by hostile states like Russia, he continued, noting that in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of counter-state-threat investigations.

Three additional British men were found guilty of aggravated arson in connection with the east London warehouse attack, which left dozens of firefighters’ lives in danger and had caused one million pounds ($1.3 million) in damage.

Nii Mensah, 23, and Jakeem Rose, 23, both received nine years and 10 months in prison, while Ugnius Asmena, 21, received seven years.

Ashton Evans, 20, was also imprisoned for nine years for failing to report information about a second arson plot involving two central London businesses owned by a Russian dissident.

The head of the MI5 security service, Ken McCallum, claims that Moscow is “committed to cause havoc and destruction” in the UK, making it known that Russia is engaging in an increasingly bold espionage and sabotage campaign there.

Three men from west and central London are being detained by the Metropolitan Police, who are also suspected of spying for Russia, in a separate case this week.