Police investigating a series of suspicious fires linked to properties connected with Sir Keir Starmer have arrested a fourth man.
The 48-year-old was detained today at Stansted Airport in Essex.
He is suspected of conspiracy to commit arson with the intent to endanger life, adding a new twist to a case that’s already gripped London.
Who Are the Others Already Charged?
Before this latest arrest, three men had already been charged in connection with the fires.
They include Petro Pochynok, 34, and Roman Lavrynovych, 21 — both Ukrainian nationals — and Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, a Romanian national originally from Ukraine.
All three are due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday as part of the ongoing legal process.
Details Behind the Charges
Petro Pochynok faces charges of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
He was arrested back on May 19 in London’s Chelsea area.
The fires he’s connected to involve three incidents: a vehicle fire in Kentish Town, a blaze at the Prime Minister’s former home on the same street, and a fire at an address in Islington where Pochynok had lived before.
One key fire happened in the early hours of May 12 at Sir Keir’s previous residence in Kentish Town, before he moved to Downing Street following his election victory.
Four days earlier, on May 8, a car was set on fire in the same street.
The third fire occurred on May 11 at a house converted into flats in Islington, damaging the front door.
Co-Conspirators Also Charged
Pochynok is accused of working with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc in the arson plot.
Lavrynovych, 21, from Sydenham in southeast London, has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
He denied these charges during a police interview and remains in custody pending a court hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6.
Carpiuc, 26, appeared in court on May 20 and was remanded to custody to face trial alongside Lavrynovych.
The Prime Minister’s Home and the Fire Incidents
Since becoming Prime Minister, Sir Keir has rented out his £2 million home in Kentish Town to his sister-in-law for a nominal fee.
This property was targeted in one of the fires on May 12.
The London Fire Brigade was alerted shortly after 1:30 a.m. and quickly brought the fire under control.
Thankfully, no one was injured, although the porch sustained damage.
This incident came just one day after a fire at a flat in Islington, where Sir Keir had previously lived.
Firefighters rescued one person from the scene, and the property’s front door was damaged in the blaze.
The Car Fire on VE Day
Earlier, on May 8 — VE Day — a car that Sir Keir had sold to a neighbour caught fire in the same Kentish Town street. The vehicle, a Toyota Rav4 hybrid, was completely destroyed.
The new owner believed the fire may have started because of a faulty battery.
Police Lead Investigation Due to High-Profile Links
All three fire targets share a connection to a high-profile public figure — in this case, Sir Keir Starmer.
Because of this, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has taken charge of the investigation.
Officers are appealing to the public for any information that might help, urging anyone with tips to call 101 and quote the reference CAD 441/12 May.