UK police arrest man over arson attacks at properties linked to prime minister

ISTANBUL

British police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a series of suspicious fires at properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Metropolitan Police confirmed Tuesday.

The suspect was taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday and remains under detention as the investigation continues, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

The arrest comes after three separate incidents were reported in north London. The most recent one occurred on Monday, when the London Fire Brigade alerted police to a fire at a residential property in Kentish Town, NW5, a private residence connected to Starmer.

Emergency services responded at around 1.35 am (0035GMT). The entrance of the property was damaged, though no injuries were reported.

Police said officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are now leading the investigation "as a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure."

Authorities are also examining whether two earlier incidents, a car fire on May 8 in the NW5 area and a fire at the entrance of another property in Islington (N7) on May 11, are linked to the Kentish Town fire. The second address is also known to have ties to the prime minister.

"All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time," the Met said, adding that inquiries remain ongoing.