LONDON — A 21-year-old man has been charged with arson with intent to cause
a fire at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's home, the Metropolitan Police
said.
According to the police statement released on Thursday,
Roman Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, faces three counts of arson with
intent to endanger life.
The charges, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service,
relate to three incidents: a vehicle fire in NW5 on May 8, a fire at the
entrance of a property in N7 on May 11, and a fire at a residential address in
NW5 in the early hours of May 12, Xinhua news agency reported.
The suspect was arrested early Tuesday in connection with
a series of suspected arson attacks, including the fire at a property owned by
Starmer.
The investigation has been led by the Met's Counter
Terrorism Command due to its links to a high-profile figure.
In the early hours of May 12, emergency services
responded to a fire at the Kentish Town home where Starmer lived before
becoming Prime Minister and moving into 10 Downing Street.
Police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to
reports of a fire at the residential address at 1:35 British Standard Time.
Damage was caused to the property's entrance but nobody
was hurt.
A car that PM Starmer had sold to a neighbour last year
was set alight four days earlier on May 8 on the same street.
One person was helped to safety by firefighters wearing
breathing apparatus, LFB said.
Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service
counterterrorism division, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds
all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active
and that he has the right to a fair trial."
"It is extremely important that there should be no
reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way
prejudice these proceedings."
It is understood that the Prime Minister lived there in
the 1990s.
While Starmer and his family lives in 10 Downing Street,
he still retains his north London residence.
The string of fires has renewed scrutiny of the security
of politicians in the UK and sparked concern and well wishes beyond
normally-bitter political rivalries.
