Man arrested over arson at properties linked to UK PM

A 21-year-old man has been arrested over suspected arson attacks on properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

He has been held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in relation to three fires, including a Kentish Town property where Mr Starmer used to live.

The man is also being questioned over a vehicle fire in the same street and a fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, which is also linked to Mr Starmer.

Emergency services were called to blazes at the doors of two homes in north London within 24 hours of each other - one just after 1.30am yesterday and the other on Sunday.

Police are investigating whether the fires were linked and counter-terrorism officers are leading the inquiry because the properties have connections to a high-profile public figure.

They are also looking into a vehicle fire on 8 May as part of the probe.

Yesterday, a police cordon and officers, as well as investigators from London Fire Brigade, could be seen outside a Kentish Town property, where Mr Starmer used to live.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I can only say that the Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work and it is subject to a live investigation. So I can’t comment any further."

Mr Starmer is understood to still own the home but lives at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Downing Street.

Police were alerted by the LFB to reports of a fire at the residential address at 1.35am.

Damage was caused to the property’s entrance but nobody was hurt.

In the early hours of Sunday, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, which is also linked to Mr Starmer.

One person was assisted to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus, LFB said.

The car fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday 8 May, in the same street as the Kentish Town property.

UK shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the UK Prime Minister and other figures in public life must be "properly protected".

Asked about for his reaction to the arrest, Mr Jenrick told Sky News: "Well, it's obviously a very concerning story, and it’s right that the police take it very seriously.

"I can’t comment on a live police investigation. I don’t know the details but it’s important that the Prime Minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected.

"We have robust disagreements in politics, but I want to ensure anyone who chooses to go into public life feels that they’ll be properly protected and that we have civility in our debate.

"It is absolutely wrong, disgraceful, for any individual to take the kind of action that we saw against the Prime Minister’s home."