Two men have been found guilty of carrying out arson attacks on a Labour MP's office and a mosque, with prosecutors stating the crimes were linked to Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party. The verdict was delivered at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
Details of the Attacks
The defendants, both in their early 30s, were convicted of setting fire to the constituency office of Labour MP Sarah Jones in Croydon, south London, and a mosque in the same area in February 2024. The attacks occurred during a period of heightened tensions following the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Prosecutors argued that the men were motivated by far-right ideology and had targeted the MP because of her support for Starmer. The court heard that the pair had also planned to attack other locations but were arrested before they could carry out further acts.
Evidence Presented
During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of the men approaching the buildings with petrol canisters. Phone records revealed they had searched for Starmer's home address and discussed attacking it. One of the defendants had posted extreme right-wing material on social media, including messages praising the Christchurch mosque shooter.
The judge described the attacks as "deeply troubling" and said they were intended to intimidate and spread fear within the community. The men will be sentenced at a later date.
Reactions
Sarah Jones said she was relieved by the verdict but expressed concern over the rise of far-right extremism. "These attacks were an assault on our democracy and our values. I am grateful to the police and prosecutors for their work," she said.
Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, stating that violence and intimidation have no place in British politics. "We must stand together against those who seek to divide us through fear," he added.
The case has highlighted the ongoing threat of far-right extremism in the UK, with police and intelligence agencies monitoring similar networks.
