LONDON – On Monday, British authorities reported the arrest of a fourth individual in relation to a spate of arson attacks linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The suspect, aged 48 and not publicly named, was apprehended at Stansted Airport, just outside London. He is suspected of conspiring to commit arson with the intent to endanger life.
The incidents, which occurred between May 8 and May 12, targeted a range of properties connected to Prime Minister Starmer. These included his own residence, a former dwelling, and a car he previously owned. Remarkably, no injuries were reported as a result of the fires.
Previously, authorities had charged three other individuals in connection with the arson attacks. These men are Petro Pochynok, 34, Roman Lavrynovych, 21, both Ukrainian nationals, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 26-year-old born in Ukraine but holding Romanian citizenship. The suspects are currently detained without bail, pending a court appearance scheduled for June 6 at London’s Central Criminal Court.
In light of these attacks, there has been speculation about potential international involvement. A Financial Times report suggesting a possible Russian connection prompted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to reject the claim. U.K. security officials are actively investigating this angle, given the serious nature of the incidents involving a political leader.
Due to the severity of the case and the high-profile target, counterterrorism officers have taken the lead in probing the arson incidents. Prime Minister Starmer has condemned the acts as not only an attack on himself but on the principles of democracy and the values upheld within the nation.
Following his election in July, Starmer and his family moved from their north London residence to the prime minister’s designated quarters on Downing Street. The arson attacks began with a Toyota RAV4, once owned by Starmer, being set aflame on May 8, near his former home. Subsequent fires followed at an apartment building where he previously lived on May 11, and the entrance of his current residence was targeted on May 12.