British police have charged a Ukrainian man with arson after a wave of fires erupted at properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Metropolitan Police confirmed Thursday that 21-year-old Roman Lavrynovych is charged with three counts of arson intended to endanger life.
Lavrynovych was detained on Tuesday over three different fires in north London. These involve a car blaze on May 8 in Kentish Town, a blaze at the entrance of a building in Islington on Sunday, and a fire at the old home of Starmer in Kentish Town later that evening.
Prosecutors say all three events are being investigated as targeted attacks. Starmer occupied the Kentish Town house with his family before relocating to 10 Downing Street in July 2024. He is said to still own the house.
British media also indicated that the Islington house, which was turned into flats, has known connections to Starmer, increasing speculations on why the attacks were carried out.
Because a high-profile political player was involved, the investigation has been carried out by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. The investigation is aimed at finding out if the attacks were politically motivated or connected to another type of extremism.
Lavrynovych is to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. The authorities have not as yet provided more information on the potential motive.
A government spokesperson stated the prime minister’s spokesperson said that Starmer had thanked the emergency services for their prompt response and assistance in response to the incidents.
The case has renewed the debate regarding the security and safety of public officials within the UK, particularly during the increased number of threats and politically motivated incidents in recent years.
