Kremlin denies connection to arson attack on British prime minister's home
The Kremlin is denying involvement in an arson attack on the private home of United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying any accusation has no grounds.
Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to a Financial Times report that U.K. officials are investigating the possibility that Russia is often a target of blame but that it should be met with presumed skepticism.
'London tends to suspect Russia of anything bad that happens in the U.K.,' Peskov told reporters at his regular press briefing Monday. 'As a rule, all these suspicions are groundless, unsubstantiated and often laughable.'
Three men have been charged in connection with the arsons that took place over the course of three nights between May 8 and May 12. The fires happened at Starmer's personal home, a property he once lived in and a car he sold.
Two of the men are Ukrainian nationals, while one is a Ukrainian-born Romanian national. All of the suspects have been ordered to be detained until a joint hearing occurs at London's Central Criminal Court on June 6.
No one was injured in the fires.
Starmer and his family moved out of their personal home in July after he was elected as prime minister, and he's lived since at the prime minister's official residence at No. 10 Downing St.
The Financial Times reported that U.K. officials are looking into whether Russian actors may have recruited the three suspects to commit the arsons, and discussions are happening to determine how to respond if it is true.
But the outlet also reported that counterterrorism police are keeping an open mind about the investigation and what the motive may be.
A prosecutor has said they don't have an explanation for the incidents.
But Western officials have accused Russia of sabotage since it began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Associated Press documented in March nearly 60 incidents in which Western officials blamed Russia, its ally Belarus or groups with ties to Russia of cyberattacks, propaganda, and of planning killings or conducting acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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