Russia has denied any involvement in a series of alleged arson attacks on property linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after three men were charged over the incidents.
Two Ukrainians and a Romanian man have been charged over the fires at two properties, including the prime minister’s home in north London before he moved to Downing Street, as well as a car that he sold last year. The suspects are accused of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
The Financial Times and the Mail on Sunday reported that British security officials were investigating if Russia was involved in the arson attacks.
But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denied any link to the incidents and called the accusations “false”, “unsubstantiated” and “ridiculous”.
He claimed that London repeatedly saw the hand of Moscow behind anything bad that happened in Britain.
"You know, London is inclined to suspect Russia of involvement in all the bad things that happen in Britain," Peskov said.
"As a rule, all these suspicions are false, unsubstantiated and often ridiculous."
Roman Lavrynovych, 21, an aspiring model and Ukrainian citizen living in Sydenham, south London, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
Ukranian-born Romanian national, Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, who is also a would-be model, was arrested by counterterrorism officers at Luton airport and charged with being a part of the conspiracy.
Petro Pochynok, 34, of Holloway Road in Islington, who describes himself online as a fashion entrepreneur, is accused of conspiring with his two co-defendants, as well as “with others unknown”, to commit arson.
None of the suspects have been charged under terrorism laws or the new National Security Act which aims to target hostile state activity.
Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London – one in the early hours of May 12 at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became PM and moved into Downing Street.
His former Toyota Rav4 car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on May 8.
The other fire took place on May 11 at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.
At an earlier hearing, Sarah Przybylska, for the prosecution, previously told the court “at this stage the alleged offending is unexplained”.
All three men deny the charges and have been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on June 6.
The Met Police, which has not mentioned Russia in any of their statements related to the attacks, declined to comment on recent reports.
The UK government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
