A man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with three fires, including two facilities linked to British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer.
London Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the 21-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of arson. The man remains in custody.
A fire broke out on Monday outside a four-bedroom home in Kentish Town, north of London. There, Starge lived until he won last year's general election. The house is on rent, but Starmer and his family live in the prime minister's official residence, 10 Downing Street.
Police are also watching a car fire on the same street on May 8th and a small fire at the front door of the house, converted into an apartment in Islington, north London, on Sunday.
All three fires are treated as suspicious and police are investigating whether they are linked, the statement said.
No one was injured in any of the fires, but there was damage to the entrance to the Stammer family home. The UK news outlet has released photos of the burnt doorway, blackened.
In a statement Monday, Metropolitan Police said: “As a precautionary measure and with previous connections with public figures that attract attention, officers from Met's counterterrorism headquarters are leading the investigation into the fire.
The Prime Minister's connection to the two properties has reinforced concerns that he may have been the target of the fire.
On Tuesday afternoon, officers said the man had been arrested in Sidenham, more than 10 miles south of Kentish Town. They added that the “keyline” of their investigation is whether the fires and cars of two houses are connected to the same famous person as “having all the previous links.”
“We recognize that this investigation can raise concerns among other public figures, especially members of Congress. The protection of Congress members is something we take very seriously across the police force.”
“This is a shocking incident,” opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenok said on social media. “My idea is with the Prime Minister and his family. No one should face this kind of threat, let alone people in the public service,” she added. “It's an attack on our democracy and should never be tolerated.”
