Arsonists attack infamous Russian 'troll factory'

Arsonists attacked an office building in St Petersburg that houses an infamous "troll factory" allegedly used by the Kremlin to spread pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation on the internet.

Security cameras filmed two masked men hurling at least three Molotov cocktails into the windows of the building in the early hours of Wednesday (26 October), Novaya Gazeta reported.

No one was injured in the incident.

The 'troll factory' is allegedly owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman and Putin supporter who is also the proprietor of the Nevskie Novosti newspaper.

The fire was put out by an employee of the newspaper, whose offices are in the same building.

Paid trolls from the company, Internet Research Agency, have been accused of flooding social networks, online newspapers, and video hosting sites with comments supporting Russian policy and criticising the West.

The New York Times reported that trolls from the company were responsible for the 2014 Columbian Chemicals Plant explosion hoax, in which rumours were spread that Isis was responsible for an explosion at a chemical plant in Centerville, Louisiana.

Former caterer and restaurateur Prigozhin has also been accused of orchestrating harassment and attacks on critics of the Russian government and independent journalists.