A Ukrainian man has been charged with three counts of arson for fires that targeted two properties and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Metropolitan Police force said Roman Lavrynovych, 21, who was arrested Tuesday, was charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
The charges are linked to three incidents over the past week â a car fire last Thursday, a blaze on Monday at Starmer’s private home that damaged the door of the house, and a fire on Sunday outside a north London house converted into apartments connected to the UK leader. No injuries were reported from any of the fires.
Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, is due to appear in court on Friday. After he was arrested, Lavrynovych remained in custody after warrants of further detention were obtained, the police said in a statement.
Starmer moved with his family to the prime minister’s official Downing Street residence after taking office last July.
The investigation was led by counter terrorism detectives as it involves the prime minister, and the charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, which is responsible for prosecuting offences relating to state threats, among other crimes.
Earlier this week, Starmer said the recent arson attacks represented “an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for.”
The attacks were condemned by leaders across the House of Commons, including by the Conservative Party’s Kemi Badenoch, who described them as “completely unacceptable.”
Starmer’s former house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year, three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with public order offences after unfurling a banner covered in red handprints outside the building.
