U.K.'s Starmer condemns ‘attack on our democracy' after fires at homes linked to him
Fire damage is seen in the doorway of a house belonging to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kentish Town in London, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told lawmakers Wednesday that recent arson attacks on properties linked to him represent 'an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for.'
The remarks by Starmer during weekly prime minister's questions were his first since the fires came to light earlier this week.
The attacks were condemned by leaders across the House of Commons, including the Conservative Party's Kemi Badenoch, who described them as 'completely unacceptable.'
On Tuesday, London's Metropolitan Police arrested a 21-year-old man in southeast London on suspicion of starting fires at Starmer's private house, another property and a car connected to the politician. No injuries were reported from any of the fires.
In a statement Wednesday, police said they have been granted a further 36 hours to question the man, who is being held at a London police station. That means he can be questioned until Friday morning.
Police said the suspect was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after an early morning fire Monday damaged the door of the house in Kentish Town, north London, where Starmer and his family lived before he was elected to lead the country last July. Starmer moved with his family to the prime minister's official Downing Street residence after taking office.
Counterterrorism detectives, who are leading the investigation because it involves the prime minister, are also looking into connections between a car fire Thursday near Starmer's house and another fire Sunday outside a house nearby that has been converted into apartments and which he has a connection to.
Authorities are investigating whether there was state involvement as well as looking at other potential motivations.
'A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure,' said Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, head of counterterrorism at the Metropolitan Police.
Starmer's former house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year, three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with public order offenses after unfurling a banner covered in red handprints outside the building.
Associated Press, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
5 hours ago
- National Post
Man who killed four members of Ontario Muslim family appealing convictions: doc
A court document shows a man convicted of murdering four members of a Muslim family and seriously injuring another in what the judge deemed to be an act of terrorism is appealing his convictions on three grounds. Article content A lawyer representing Nathaniel Veltman filed a new notice of appeal in February, nearly a year after Veltman filed an initial inmate notice of appeal. Article content Article content The document says Veltman is challenging his convictions and seeking a new trial on grounds that the trial judge erred in admitting the 'ideological evidence,' and in admitting his statements to police, which it says were obtained in breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Article content Veltman was sentenced in February 2024 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years after he was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck on June 6, 2021, while they were out for a walk in London, Ont. Article content Article content Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed in the attack. The couple's nine-year-old son was seriously hurt but survived. Article content Pomerance ruled the murders, committed by a self-described white nationalist, were an act of terrorism. The case was the first time Canada's terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. Article content
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
RCMP in London detail charges against man accused of selling components to Russia that could be used for weapons
The RCMP announced in London Friday it has laid charges against a Toronto businessman accused of selling materials to Russia that could be used to make weapons. It's the first charge laid under the Special Economic Measures Act, which placed export controls on Moscow in response to Russian military intervention in Ukraine. The suspect has been identified as Anton Trofimov, aged 43. RCMP would not confirm whether he was shipping parts for drones to Russia to be used in its war effort, saying only that they were 'dual use' components, meaning civilian or military. 'These particular items are on the common high priority list that the Bureau of Industry and Security puts out. These are items that the Russian military does seek to procure,' explained RCMP Cpl. Cap. Martin Williamson. 'It's dual-use components - micro-chips, antennas, semi-conductor materials and whatnot. So, in terms of drones, I can't comment on that.' The case will be back in court at the end of June.
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
U.S., Chinese officials to meet in London next week for new round of trade talks
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON — Senior U.S. administration officials will meet with a Chinese delegation on Monday in London for the next round of trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday. The meeting comes after a phone call between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, which the U.S. president described as a 'very positive' conversation as the two countries attempt to break an impasse over tariffs and global supplies of rare earth minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the U.S. side in the trade talks. 'The meeting should go very well,' Trump wrote on his social media platform Friday afternoon. The conversation between Trump and Xi, who lead the world's two biggest economies, lasted about an hour and a half, according to the U.S. president. The Chinese foreign ministry has said Trump initiated the call. The ministry said Xi asked Trump to 'remove the negative measures' that the U.S. has taken against China. It also said that Trump said 'the U.S. loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,' although his administration has vowed to revoke some of their visas. Article by Seung Min Kim.
