Man detained following suspected arson attacks on PM Starmer properties
The 21-year-old was taken into custody early Tuesday on charges of arson with the intent to endanger life.
A man has been detained in connection with suspected arson attacks targeting properties associated with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The 21-year-old was taken into custody early Tuesday on charges of arson with the intent to endanger life, according to the Metropolitan Police.
He remains under arrest.
This follows a fire that broke out at the prime minister's private residence in Kentish Town, north London, during the early hours of Monday.
On Sunday, emergency crews responded to a small fire at the entrance of a house in Islington, which has been linked to Sir Keir.
Firefighters helped one individual to safety via an internal staircase, reported the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
The Metropolitan Police have stated that officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into the recent fires, as a precautionary measure due to the property's past association with a prominent public figure.
The first fire occurred just before 03:00 BST on Thursday, when firefighters responded to a small car fire on the same street as the Prime Minister’s residence in Kentish Town.
It is understood that Starmer, who still owns the property but resides at Downing Street, lived there before the 2024 general election. The property has been rented out since then.
The second fire broke out shortly after 03:00 on Sunday at another property in Islington.
The third incident took place at the Kentish Town residence at 01:11 on Monday.
Firefighters were able to bring the "small fire" under control within about 20 minutes.
Although there was damage to the property’s entrance, no one was injured, according to the police.
On Monday, Sir Keir expressed his gratitude to the emergency services for their efforts, with his official spokesman stating that, due to the ongoing investigation, he could not provide additional details about the incident or who was present at the property when the fire occurred.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper shared with the BBC on Tuesday that she had been briefed on the situation but refrained from commenting further.
"The police are handling the investigation, and they have my full support," she said.
"While it’s natural to have concerns in such matters, we place our trust in the police to conduct a thorough investigation."
