LONDON — A Ukrainian man has been charged with arson after a fire at a north London property owned by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Metropolitan Police announced late Thursday that Roman Lavrynovych, a 21-year-old Ukrainian national, had been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
The fires relate to three separate events on May 11 and May 12: a vehicle fire, a fire at the entrance of a property, and a fire at another residential address.
Lavrynovych, of Sydenham, south east London, was arrested on May 13 and has remained in custody since. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday May 16.
The investigation into the blazes has been led by the Met’s counter-terror wing because of the nature of the properties.
Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement Thursday: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
While Starmer and his family lives in 10 Downing Street, he still retains his north London residence.
The string of fires has renewed scrutiny of the security of politicians in the U.K. and sparked concern and well wishes beyond normally-bitter political rivalries.
This developing story has been updated.
