London police have arrested a second man on suspicion of involvement in a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“A 26-year-old man was arrested at around 1:45pm on Saturday, May 17, at London Luton Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life“, Scotland Yard said in a statement. The arrest was made by “officers from the police's counter-terrorism unit“. They were called in because the crime was linked to the head of state.
The man was taken to a police station and questioned. As police said, the arrest is related to all three arson incidents.
Earlier, 21-year-old Ukrainian citizen Roman Lavrynovych was detained in this case. He was charged with three counts of “arson with intent to endanger human life“. He is suspected of involvement in the arson not only of the door of Starmer's private home in the Kentish Town area of North London, where the sister of the politician's wife now lives, but also of the prime minister's old car, as well as an apartment in the Islington area. It belonged to the current prime minister from 1991 to 1997.
The listed incidents occurred between May 8 and 12. Starmer himself, after Labour's victory in the general election in July 2024, moved with his wife and children to a residence on Downing Street.
Lavrinovic remains in custody, the next hearing is scheduled for June 6. It will be held at the “Old Bailey“ Criminal Court in London.