Russia was behind arson attacks targeting PM

I long ago realised that when it comes to the various secret services, nothing you read in books compares with the real thing. If you put the reality of what secret services do in a book every one would say it was too far fetched.

It has always been so. I still enjoy the novels of John Buchan (Thirty Nine Steps etc). I always thought his books were a bit Ian Fleming/John LeCarre level. Then I did a bit of researching into what the British and German secret services got up to in the run-up and during WW1 and realised that what actually happened was more unbelievable than the fiction.

Russia interfering in our politics, now there's a surprise!

The worrying thing is that people are easily influenced by the hate and division spread by Putin and his proxies.

www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=010995057459380558086:wn3vvylhmc4&q=https://www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1357896-News-blackout-on-Old-Bailey-Starmer-arson-case&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj25Pjx6omVAxV-UKQEHRhAJqUQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1NZYeBzX1dsZrCHypuEsPR&fexp=121695402
A reminder of the previous thread. I had to go in via Google, it would not open on Gransnet, it was mooved.

It’s a relief really to have Russia confirmed as in a cyber war ton destabilise the Uk and other countries.
Brexit a fine example

And the culprit took part in the arson attack, just for the money!
Nothing to do with his politics. Just greed.

Agreed Iam64, it’s better to know their plots.

Do people realise that when Tommy Robinson was recently arrested at Heathrow on his return from Russia where he'd been attending meetings with Ellon Musk, the father of Elon Musk.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/09/tommy-robinson-meets-elon-musk-father-moscow

Is it the case that Reform politicians could unwittingly, or perhaps knowingly, be conduits of Russian interference, because of the 'donations' paid to them?

Certainly knowingly. Farage worked on Russia Today and has contacts in Russia - something he shares with Galloway.

Whitewavemark2

The worrying thing is that people are easily influenced by the hate and division spread by Putin and his proxies.

Are they? I am not sure I agree. As time goes by I think people are having a much more informed and sophisticated view to what they read online. Also, so much is known about how both the Russian and Chinese governments operate that few can be unaware of their behaviour.

The evidence does not support that though monica

I wish it did.

Well the previous thread was a pretty unedifying read wasn’t it and awash with deletions. Although these attacks ended up bring pretty bungled, as a society there are 3 things in this case we should all care about. First, any attack aimed at a political leader, regardless of success or failure is an attack on democracy. Secondly, arson is taken very seriously as a crime because a fire once set can soon be put of control and the loss of life can be large. And thirdly we should all care about Russia ( or any other power) organising attacks on our country . Look at Salisbury ( I know this was potentially much worse) but apart from the father and daughter ( who recovered) an innocent woman died and a policeman had his life changed for ever.

butterandjam

Do people realise that when Tommy Robinson was recently arrested at Heathrow on his return from Russia where he'd been attending meetings with Ellon Musk, the father of Elon Musk.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/09/tommy-robinson-meets-elon-musk-father-moscow

I was thinking about that. My gut instinct tells me Tommy Robinson is up to his neck in this. If I were him, I think I'd be very careful to keep an eye on my back because it wouldn't surprise me if one day it's decided he's no longer useful but knows too much. I'd be very wary of drinking tea, stepping out on to any balcony and of people approaching me with umbrellas.

Whitewavemark2

The evidence does not support that though monica

I wish it did.

I agree with Whitewave here.

I’ve just literally finished watching a panorama special on BBC2 about this very case.

Utterly shocking.

Fake photoshopped photos of our PM with the so called “rent boys”.

Evidence of funding from Russia to people in this country to cause fires and mayhem here not just directed at our PM, but mosques and other minority groups.

A very shocking programme.

I think it was a Panorama, anyway it was in between 7:00pm-7:30pm.

Tuliptree

Well the previous thread was a pretty unedifying read wasn’t it and awash with deletions. Although these attacks ended up bring pretty bungled, as a society there are 3 things in this case we should all care about. First, any attack aimed at a political leader, regardless of success or failure is an attack on democracy. Secondly, arson is taken very seriously as a crime because a fire once set can soon be put of control and the loss of life can be large. And thirdly we should all care about Russia ( or any other power) organising attacks on our country . Look at Salisbury ( I know this was potentially much worse) but apart from the father and daughter ( who recovered) an innocent woman died and a policeman had his life changed for ever.

I agree.

How many times is Russia cited as influencing our leaders?

Johnson? His trips to the property in italy owned by a KGB office Lebedev?

The list is as long as your arm.

Russia successfully had a hand in moving us out of the EU. Isolate your enemy is a tactic. Having friends in places if power in our country is another one.