Three men have been charged on suspicion of arson after three fires at houses and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer.
Two of the fires took place within 24 hours in Kentish Town, north London at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street.
A car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on May 8.
The incidents are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command because of the connection with a high-profile public figure.
The fires have been widely condemned by politicians across the divide, with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick saying it is “important that the prime minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected”.
Here’s everything we know about the fires so far:
What happened?
Emergency services were called to blazes at the doors of two homes in north London within 24 hours of each other.
In the early hours of Sunday, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, which is also linked to Sir Keir.
Westminster Magistrates Court, where the three suspects first appeared, heard that accelerant, preliminarily deemed to be of a “slow burning nature”, was used in at least one of the fires.
One person was helped to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus, LFB said.
Police were then alerted by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to reports of a fire at another residential address in Kentish Town at 1.35am.
Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, but nobody was hurt.
Sir Keir is understood to own the home still, but now lives at the PM’s official residence in Downing Street.
Scotland Yard is also looking into a vehicle fire on 8 May as part of the probe. The car fire broke out in the early hours on the same street as the Kentish Town property.
Who has been charged?
Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 34, of north London, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
Metropolitan Police accuse him of conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and other unknown people to cause damage by fire to property belonging to another.
The defendant, of Holloway Road in Islington, north London, 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.
Lavrynovych, 21, of Sydenham, another Ukrainian national, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
The court heard that accelerant, preliminarily deemed to be of a “slow burning nature”, was used in at least one of the fires.
Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.”
She also told the court that Lavrynovych, of Sydenham, south-east London, was interviewed under caution after his arrest and denied arson.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 May and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.
Self-proclaimed male model and actor Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, from Romford, east London has also been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
The Romanian national appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 May.
Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.”
Carpiuc, who wore a blue adidas hoodie and grey tracksuit bottoms in the dock, was arrested at Luton Airport on Saturday.
The court heard Carpiuc, who was born in Ukraine, gave a no comment interview to police.
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Defending, Jay Nutkins said that Carpiuc has lived in the UK for nine years, and is currently waiting for his degree results having spent two years studying a business degree at Canterbury Christchurch University in Kent.
He denies being present at the scene of any of the fires, the court was told.
The court heard the 26-year-old, who was supported by his father in court, works in construction.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.
A police spokesperson said: "As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it. All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing."
What has the reaction been?
Speaking to Sky News, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said it is “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”, he added.
“It is absolutely wrong, disgraceful, for any individual to take the kind of action that we saw against the prime minister’s home.”
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said she had been briefed about the incidents.
She told BBC Breakfast: “You are right that the police are investigating these incidents, and they have my full support in doing so.
“I have been briefed about these incidents but you will understand, as home secretary I obviously cannot comment in any detail on the investigations that are ongoing.”
The prime minister’s official spokesperson added: “I can only say that the prime minister thanks the emergency services for their work and it is subject to a live investigation. So I can’t comment any further.”
