Man remanded over fires at houses and automobile linked to Starmer

A Ukrainian man has been remanded in custody after showing in courtroom charged in reference to fires at two properties and a automobile linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Roman Lavrynovych, 21, who the BBC understands is a builder and roofer, is accused of three counts of arson with intent to hazard life following the fires at areas in north London. He didn’t enter any pleas to the costs.

The defendant, assisted by an interpreter, spoke solely to verify his identify, date of beginning and deal with at a brief listening to at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom on Friday.

He’ll seem subsequent on the Outdated Bailey for a plea and trial preparation listening to on 6 June.

“At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained,” prosecutor Sarah Przybylska stated on Friday.

Ms Przybylska additionally instructed the courtroom that Lavrynovych was interviewed below warning after his arrest and denied arson.

The courtroom additionally heard that accelerant, preliminarily deemed to be of a “sluggish burning nature”, was utilized in at the least one of many fires.

Mr Lavrynovych was arrested at an deal with in Sydenham within the early hours of Tuesday and charged on Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terror Command led the investigation due to the connections to a high-profile public determine.

Within the early hours of Monday, the emergency companies responded to a hearth on the Kentish City residence the place Sir Keir lived earlier than turning into prime minister and transferring into 10 Downing Avenue.

Police had been alerted by the London Fireplace Brigade to studies of a hearth on the residential deal with at 01:35 BST.

Injury was triggered to the property’s entrance however no person was damage.

The BBC understands the property is rented to the prime minister’s sister-in-law.

4 days earlier, on 8 Might, a automobile that Sir Keir offered to a neighbour final yr was set alight on the identical avenue.

Within the early hours of Sunday, firefighters handled a small fireplace on the entrance door of a home transformed into flats in close by Islington, which can be linked to the prime minister.

One particular person was assisted to security through an inside staircase by crews carrying respiratory equipment, the hearth brigade stated.