Arson attack on property linked to UK Prime Minister

Key Judgements

• Alleged arson attacks occurred at properties connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
• Three men were arrested and have been charged with counts of arson and conspiracy to endanger life.
• Counter Terrorism police are investigating the cause and motivations of the three incidents.

Timeline

On 8 May, just before 3:00am, a car, a Toyota RAV4, the prime minister sold to a neighbour last year caught fire on the Kentish Town street where he lived before moving to Downing Street. A neighbour on the same street, Linda Perry, 80, described being woken up, saying “you could see the flames without looking outside the window”. She told the BBC: “I could hear two people shouting ‘fire, fire’ – they looked like food delivery men. As I looked out you could see it [the fire] lighting up the street.”

On 11 May, in the early hours, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, a property Sir Keir lived at during the 1990s. One person had to be rescued via an internal staircase by firefighters who were using breathing apparatus. Police officers were in the area until the early evening and then back again the next day, making house-to-house inquiries asking for footage “even of someone walking by.”

On 12 May, at 1:11am, a fire broke out at the prime minister’s private home in Kentish Town. Police were alerted at 1:30am by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, the doorway of his home was charred after being set ablaze, but nobody was hurt. The fire was under control within about 20 minutes. Charles Grant, 66, who lives on the same street, told reporters that police officers searched his garden to look for a “projectile”. “They didn’t find anything,” he said.

On 13 May, a Ukrainian national, Roman Lavrynovych, from Sydenham, 21, was arrested, in the early hours, and charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life. On 16 May, Lavrynovych appeared in court and did not enter any pleas to the charges. At the same time Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.” She also told the court that Lavrynovych was interviewed under caution after his arrest and denied arson. Lavrynovych was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June

On 17 May, self-proclaimed male model and actor, Stanislav Carpiuc, who was born in Ukraine but has Romanian nationality, and lives in Romford, east London, 26, was also arrested at Luton Airport and charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

On 19 May, Ukrainian national, Petro Pocynok, 34, from Holloway Road in Islington, north London, was arrested in Chelsea on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Metropolitan Police accused him of conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and other unknown people to cause damage by fire to property belonging to another. Pocynok later appeared before district judge Daniel Sternberg dressed in a prisoner’s grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address.

On 20 May, Stanislav Carpiuc appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court, dressed in a blue adidas hoodie and grey tracksuit bottoms Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.” The court heard Carpiuc gave a no comment interview to police but denied being present at the scene of any of the fires.

All three charged men have remained in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

Reaction

The fires were widely condemned by politicians across the divide including from opposition ministers like shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick who said it is “important that the prime minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected.” Home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she had been briefed about the incidents and expressed her support for the ongoing police investigation. The prime minister’s official spokesperson said the police should be given the “time and space” to complete their investigations. Adding that the prime minister thanked the emergency for their work but was carrying with his public duties.

Analysis

The cause of the fires is not confirmed yet by police but Westminster Magistrates Court heard that accelerant, preliminarily deemed to be of a “slow burning nature,” was used in at least one of the fires. Additionally, during the incidents neighbours described hearing a loud bang and said police officers were looking for a “projectile.” This indicates the possibility of a flaming object being used in one of fires.

Detectives are still investigating whether all three of the fires were connected. However, given the closeness in time and location it is likely coordination occurred between the three incidents.

Counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation because of the “property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure”, in this case the prime minister. The charges were authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, which is responsible for prosecuting offenses relating to state threats, among other crimes.

Detectives are also investigating the possibility that the attacks could be linked to a “hostile state.” Specifically British security officials are examining the potential of Russian involvement given the ongoing geopolitical conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, of which the UK is exercising its influence in, this is reasonable possibility. It is key to note that on 26 May, the Kremlin rejected claims of involvement in the attacks.

What happens next?

Currently, counter-terrorism officers are working “at pace” to establish the cause of the fires and “any potential motivation.” Additionally, the three current suspects need to appear at the Old Baily on 6 June.

Police have said “enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it. All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing.” It is likely that discovering the cause of the fires will take considerable time, along with determining the full involvement of the three current suspects.