Dylan Earl Guilty in UK Arson Case

Dylan Earl, a 20-year-old from Leicestershire, has pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and an offence under the National Security Act 2023 for his role in an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked business in east London. The attack, linked to the Russian Wagner group, took place in March and required 60 firefighters to control the blaze. Earl is the first person convicted under the new National Security Act, which addresses hostile state activities. He denied a charge of assisting a foreign intelligence service, which prosecutors decided not to pursue. Five other men are charged with aggravated arson, with trials set for next year. Prosecutors have indicated that the charges against Earl were intended to benefit the Russian state.