BREAKING NEWS Keir Starmer fire attack accused in court: Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 21, appears in the dock charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life
A Ukrainian man accused of three arson attacks on homes and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has appeared in court.
Roman Lavrynovych, 21, from Sydenham in south London, had been charged last night by Scotland Yard with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
The Ukrainian national is accused of setting the Prime Minister's £2million north London property alight on Monday night.
That blaze happened just days after the torching of a car and a flat which the Labour leader had previously owned.
The three fires took place between May 8 and 12.
The Ukrainian appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court today wearing a prison grey tracksuit, accompanied by a Ukrainian interpreter, and spoke to confirm his name and address.
He was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday and has been in custody since.
Sir Keir let the four-bedroom house in Kentish Town to his sister-in-law on a peppercorn rent since he moved into Downing Street after his general election victory in July last year.
The blaze damaged the porch of the property, but firefighters were able to bring it under control within 20 minutes, stopping it from spreading further indoors.
The doors of two homes linked to the Prime Minister in north London both suffered fire damage within 24 hours of each other.
It came after a Toyota Rav 4 on Sir Keir's street burst into flames on VE Day.
The owner of the vehicle, a neighbour of the Prime Minister, is understood to have thought that the fire started because of a faulty battery.
The hybrid car was completely destroyed, with the owner of the vehicle later saying he initially thought it was a battery fault
The head of Counter Terrorism Command issued a statement following the blazes, urging any MPs who may be concerned to contact police.
Now Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division, has said on Thursday night: 'Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London.
'Roman Lavrynovych has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, contrary to section 1(2) and (3) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
'These charges relate to two fires at residential addresses in Islington on Sunday, 11 May 2025 and in Kentish Town on Monday, 12 May 2025, as well as a car fire in Kentish Town on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'
City mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the three fires had left the Prime Minister's family feeling 'frightened' for their safety.
He told LBC Radio: 'Don't underestimate the ripples of fear that [his wife] Vic and the kids felt when they will have read this stuff in the paper.
'But for the grace of God they are safe thankfully, in Downing Street, they've got a protection team.'
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