Police are investigating a series of suspected arson attacks on property linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in north-west London.
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 an address in NW5 on May 12 — are being treated as suspicious, Met Police confirmed, as enquiries remain ongoing.
On Monday at 1.35am, police were alerted by London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address.
It is understood the Kentish Town property is owned by the PM, who currently resides in No 10 Downing Street with his family, and is reportedly letting out the four-bedroom home.
The Met said as a precaution, and due to the property’s connection with a high-profile figure, officers from its counter-terrorism command were leading the investigation.
On Tuesday they announced a 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He remains in custody.
Here’s what we know so far about the north London ‘arson attacks’.
What happened in the suspected arson attacks?
Emergency services were called to reports of fires at the entrances of two homes in north London within 24 hours of each other.
Shortly after 3am on Sunday, the LFB were called to a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.
One person was assisted to safety via an internal staircase by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, London Fire Brigade said.
The fire was under control by 4am.
Less than 24 hours later, at 1.35am on Monday, police were alerted by the LFB to reports of a fire at Sir Keir Starmer’s private home in Kentish Town.
Damage was caused to the property’s entrance but nobody was hurt.
It is understood Sir Keir owns the home, which is rented out, but he lives with his family in the prime minister’s official residence in No10 Downing Street.
Officers are also investigating a small care fire that happened just before 3am last Thursday on the same street as Sir Keir Starmer’s Kentish Town property.
A police cordon and officers, as well as investigators from London Fire Brigade, could be seen outside the Kentish Town property on Monday.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a series of arson attacks, Met Police confirmed today. He remains in custody.
“All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing,” they said.
What has been the response to the fires?
Residents reported hearing a “loud bang” in the early hours of Monday morning.
A next-door neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, told the Sun: “It was a loud bang, what sounded like glass shattering. It was scary.”
Another resident, who asked not be named, said she was woken by a bang around 2am.
The tech worker, 58, told the publication: “I got woken by a loud noise in the early hours of the morning.
“I looked out of the window and saw flashing lights and heard police sirens.
“There’s been lots of forensics outside all day. It seems like they’re taking it very seriously.”
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News on Tuesday: “It's important that the Prime Minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected.
“We have robust disagreements in politics but I want to ensure anyone who chooses to go in to public life feels that they'll be properly protected and that we have civility in our debate.
“It is absolutely wrong, disgraceful, for any individual to take the kind of action that we saw against the Prime Minister's home.”
What has the Prime Minister said?
Sir Keir, who no longer lives in the house as he resides at the Prime Minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street, thanked emergency services after the fire.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Sir Keir “thanks emergency services for their work” but added that he “cannot comment on an ongoing investigation”.
The house, which Sir Keir and his wife Victoria bought in 2004, has previously been targeted by protesters.
Last year three people were found guilty if public order offences after a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the property.
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