A British man accused of recruiting and paying people to carry out arson attacks. >> They live streamed themselves causing around a million pound worth of damage. >> Three British men have been found guilty of an arson attack. >> Investigation found that there were more arson attacks planned. >> Just before midnight on the 20th of March 2024, a warehouse in Leighton in East London erupted into flames. The warehouse was destroyed causing nearly a million pounds worth of damage and placing the public at significant risks such as the scale of the fire. What at first looked like senseless arson was soon uncovered to be an act of sabotage puppeteered by a hostile foreign power using young British men recruited on social media. The attack was ordered from Moscow by the Russian mercenary group the Vagnner Group and carried out on British soil by a group of men lured in by Russian propaganda or simply greed. The investigation that ensued led to the first ever arrests, charges, and convictions under the National Security Act, which came into force only weeks earlier. Initially, the arson was investigated by local officers, and a young new detective recognized the link to Ukraine and informed counterterrorism policing. This led to counterterrorism detectives taking control of the case, and the evidence led to a suspected perpetrator, the Vagna Group. The first thing counterterrorism detectives did was identify the car used in the attack. Using CCTV and number plate recognition, we were able to identify a red car leaving the scene and driving to the scene. Phone data also confirmed the details of the men in the car. From the beginning, we knew we weren't dealing with a criminally sophisticated gang. They actually recorded themselves setting the fire and live stream it to the man who had orchestrated it all, a drug dealer by the name of Dylan Earl. They also left physical evidence. While fleeing the scene, one dropped a large knife that had his DNA on it. Messages were recovered from their phones after arrest that later showed their panic. With one messaging, L9 left his Rambo at the scene. Dylan was the first to be arrested. He was arrested in a BQ car park in Leicester on the 10th of April 2024, some 20 days after the incident. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed he had used the encrypted messaging app Telegram to get in contact with the Vagna group. Detectives extracted 56 GB of data from phone, including more than 5,000 instant messages, 50,000 images, 1,200 emails, and 3,000 videos. Very quickly, we were able to use the information on the phone to prevent two further arson attacks in London. Messages recovered from his phone showed that reconnaissance had already been carried out at a restaurant and a wine bar in Mayfair. These were owned by a Russian dissident. The group also discussed using explosives to damage the buildings and also a potential kidnapping plot for this Russian businessman. Using these telegram messages, we were able to work out exactly how he recruited his accompllices for the warehouse arson. The first was ell's associate Jake Reeves who then recruited his friend Mensah to carry out the arson. In turn, Mensah recruited friends Rose and Asmina. Detectives found evidence that Earl had discussed the plot to target the Mayfair businesses with another associate, Ashton. Evidence Dylan, we now know, was tasked by the Vagnner Group, a Russian state sponsored organization, to conduct this activity on behalf of the Russian state. So, Dylan was primarily motivated by money, but well, I know that he was particularly fascinated by the Russian military and in some conversations even asked about joining the Russian military. And so, when he identified the Vagna group through Telegram, this struck a chord with him and it appeared that whilst he was motivated by money, he also enjoyed the idea of talking to the Vagna group and what he knew to be the Russian state. We were able to identify that communication. Uh, in this case, an individual that was going by the name PrivateBots was representing the Vagnner Group, which as I say really is the Russian State, the Russian Intelligence Services. This was the first time anyone had been charged using the new National Security Act. Here in the United Kingdom, we're now seeing over 20% of counterterrorism policing's demand coming from hostile state investigations. This goes to the very heart of our national security and our way of life. And so what you have here are a group of low-level criminals who have conducted some very serious offenses, including sabotage and other plots uh to target other premises in central London and potentially a kidnap on behalf of a foreign state. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, the jury found Mensah, Rose, and Asmina all guilty of aggravated arson, a very serious offense. Ashton Evans was found guilty of one offense of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. Dylan and Jake Ree had already pleaded guilty to acting on behalf of a foreign power under the National Security Act. These individuals have now been convicted. We will hopefully see them go to prison for a very long time. But I would say to anyone tempted to engage with the Vagna Group, with any other country online that tasks them to conduct this sort of activity, you are taking significant risks. Counterterrorism policing will be able to identify you and we will place you in front of a court and disrupt your activity. What I would say to the public is be alert but not alarmed. If anyone has any concerns, please call the anti-terrorism hotline and we will respond to your information. We continue to work together with our partners internationally and our intelligence partners here in the United Kingdom to keep the country safe from threats from overseas.