Second man charged over fires at homes linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Published connected 20/05/2025 - 12:47 GMT+2•Updated 12:52

Police successful Britain person charged a 2nd man pinch arson offences complete a bid of fires that targeted properties successful London linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Romanian nationalist Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, from Romford successful eastbound London, is accused of arson pinch intent to endanger life, nan Metropolitan Police said connected Tuesday. He had been arrested astatine Luton Airport connected Saturday.

The first man to beryllium charged complete nan fires — 21-year-old Ukrainian nationalist Roman Lavrynovych — appeared successful tribunal successful London past Friday.

Lavrynovych did not participate a plea astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court to 3 counts of arson pinch intent to endanger life but denied nan charges successful a constabulary interview.

An unnamed 34-year-old was besides arrested connected Monday successful Chelsea successful westbound London, connected suspicion of conspiracy to perpetrate arson pinch intent to endanger life, nan Metropolitan Police said. The man, whose nationality has not been disclosed, remains successful custody.

The charges and latest apprehension subordinate to 3 incidents — a occurrence astatine Starmer's backstage location successful Kentish Town, northbound London, a conveyance occurrence connected nan aforesaid street, and a blaze astatine a spot wherever he had antecedently lived successful northwest London.

No injuries were reported from nan fires, which occurred connected 3 nights betwixt 8 May and 12 May.

Starmer and his family had moved into nan premier minister’s charismatic 10 Downing Street residence successful cardinal London aft he was elected successful July. He precocious called nan incidents "an onslaught connected each of us, connected our populist and nan values we guidelines for".

Although nan motives down nan fires person not been made public, information officials successful nan West person warned that Russian intelligence mightiness beryllium utilizing an array of disruptive tactics, among them disinformation, sabotage and arson against Ukraine's Western allies.

In November 2024, Richard Moore, nan caput of Britain's overseas intelligence work MI6, said Moscow was conducting a "staggeringly reckless" sabotage campaign.

Last month, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Russia of pursuing progressively dispute policies against nan UK and its interests — which he said included "recruiting spies to undertake acts of arson and sabotage connected UK soil".