UK police have arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a series of fires at properties linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The arrest took place early on Tuesday morning, following fires at two locations associated with the Prime Minister, one of which was his private home in Kentish Town, north London.
The first fire occurred in the early hours of Monday morning at Starmer’s Kentish Town residence. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 01:11 BST, where a small fire was reported at the property’s entrance. Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes, and fortunately, no one was injured. Despite the quick response, the incident has raised concerns due to the nature of the targeted properties.
This fire followed an earlier incident on Sunday, when a fire broke out at a house in nearby Islington, another property connected to Sir Keir. The blaze occurred just after 03:00 BST, and a person was safely evacuated from the building by firefighters using an internal staircase. The Islington property, a house converted into flats, also sustained damage from the fire, though there were no injuries reported.
Additionally, authorities are investigating a car fire that occurred earlier in the week on the same street as the Prime Minister’s Kentish Town home. The three separate fires have led police to treat the incidents as suspicious, and counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation to determine if they are linked.
Given the high-profile nature of the individual involved, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has taken the lead on the investigation as a precaution. The authorities are carefully examining all aspects of the case, including whether there are any connections between the incidents that could suggest a coordinated attack.
Sir Keir Starmer is understood to still own the Kentish Town property, although he has lived at Downing Street since the 2024 general election. The house in Kentish Town has been rented out since then. The Islington property has similar connections to Starmer, though it is not his primary residence.
Sir Keir has expressed his gratitude to the emergency services for their swift response in dealing with the fires, and his official spokesman has stated that the matter remains under investigation. Due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry, no further details have been provided regarding the people who were inside the properties at the time of the incidents.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also been briefed on the situation and has offered her full support to the police as they continue their investigation. While she acknowledged the concerns the incidents have raised, she emphasized her confidence in the police’s ability to handle the case and underscored the importance of allowing the authorities to conduct their investigation without interference.
As of now, the police are focusing on determining the motives behind the fires and whether they are part of a larger pattern of targeted attacks. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as the authorities continue their work. The public’s safety and the security of high-profile public figures remain central priorities for the police as they unravel the details of these suspicious incidents.
