A 21-year-old man has been taken into custody on suspicion of deliberately setting fires that could have endangered lives, following a series of suspicious incidents at properties linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the arrest was made early Tuesday, and the suspect remains detained as inquiries continue.
The investigation began after a blaze broke out at Starmer’s private residence in Kentish Town, north London, early Monday morning.
This followed an earlier incident on Sunday, when emergency responders were called to a flat conversion in Islington, another address connected to the Prime Minister, where a fire had started at the front door. One individual was safely evacuated by fire crews using an internal stairway.
Authorities are also examining a car fire that occurred on the same street as Starmer’s Kentish Town property last Thursday, as part of a wider investigation into whether the events are linked.
Counter-terrorism officers are now overseeing the inquiry due to the potential risk to a prominent public figure.
London Fire Brigade confirmed the Kentish Town blaze, reported at 01:11 on Monday, was quickly brought under control with no injuries, though the entrance sustained damage.
Starmer, whose official residence is at Downing Street, has expressed gratitude to emergency responders, while his spokesperson declined to elaborate further due to the ongoing nature of the probe.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking to the BBC, confirmed she had been briefed and expressed full support for the police, emphasising public trust in their handling of the situation.