Two men from Wandsworth are at the centre of a terrorism trial over a £1 million arson attack allegedly carried out in support of Russia’s Wagner Group — with jurors now deliberating their fate.
Paul English, 61, of Roehampton, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, who is originally from Wandsworth, are accused of playing key roles in the attack on a warehouse in Leyton, east London, used to send humanitarian aid and Starlink satellite equipment to Ukraine.
According to prosecutors, English drove a group of young men to the site in his Kia Picanto in the early hours of 20 March 2024. CCTV and livestreamed footage allegedly shows two of them — Jakeem Rose and Nii Mensah — setting the warehouse ablaze before fleeing. Asmena is accused of being part of the group that carried out the attack and escaped in English’s car.
The blaze gutted the warehouse and caused around £1 million in damage. All four men — English, Asmena, Rose and Mensah — deny charges of aggravated arson.
Case heard at the Old Bailey
The Old Bailey heard the attack was masterminded by Dylan Earl, 20, of Leicestershire, and Jake Reeves, 23, of Croydon, both of whom have admitted organising the fire on behalf of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary force proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The pair also admitted plotting additional attacks in London’s West End, including plans to firebomb luxury venues Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines, and to kidnap their owner.
Two others, Ashton Evans from Newport and Dmirjus Paulauskas from Croydon, deny separate charges of failing to disclose information about terrorism.
The case has raised alarm among security officials and local leaders, who have warned that foreign extremist propaganda is being used to radicalise young people across London. Prosecutors allege that the group was recruited to carry out multiple acts of sabotage on UK soil at the direction of Russian interests.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sent the jury out at 3:30pm on Tuesday to begin deliberations. Verdicts are expected later this week.
