20-05-2025
Pictured: Romanian charged over Starmer firebomb attacks
A Romanian national charged in relation to fires that damaged properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has been pictured for the first time.
Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life over fires which damaged properties and a car linked to the Prime Minister.
The Romanian appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Tuesday wearing a light blue Adidas hoodie.
He is accused of conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian man who has already been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, and others unknown, over the incident.
Mr Carpiuc is understood to run a painting and decorating firm with his brother and is an aspiring actor and model.
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He was arrested on Saturday by counter-terrorism officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit as he attempted to leave the country and travel to Romania from London Luton Airport.
He was held in police custody after a warrant of further detention was obtained.
The court was told Mr Carpiuc, who has no previous convictions, was identified through messages found on Mr Lavrynovych's phone.
A 34-year-old man was also arrested on May 19 in the Chelsea area on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. He remains in police custody.
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 Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street.
A car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on May 8. The other fire was on May 11 at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.
Mr Lavrynovych, 21, of Sydenham, south-east London, has already been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the fires. He denied the charges in a police interview.
He appeared in court on Friday and was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the Old Bailey scheduled for June 6.
The court was told he lived with his grandmother and was asleep at their property when police raided it early on Tuesday.
Mr Lavrynovych's father said that his son was a proud Ukrainian but had always admired the UK.
Mr Lavrynovych was initially living with his mother and younger siblings, but when his sister was unable to get a school place in London, she returned to Ukraine and he remained, living with his grandmother.
He set up a building company but had also signed with a modelling agency and was a regular at a gym in Sydenham.
Photographs of Mr Lavrynovych on social media show him doing press-ups in his bedroom. His father said Mr Lavyronvych had been happy and settled in the UK and had a girlfriend who was also Ukrainian.
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