British police are investigating possible Russian involvement in the arson of the current and former home of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the car he previously owned, reported the Financial Times.
During the investigation, it is being determined whether the three detainees could have been recruited by Russian intelligence services, senior British officials told the FT. The three detainees are: 21-year-old Roman Lavrinovich, who was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, 26-year-old Romanian citizen Stanislav Karpyuk, who was charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, and 34-year-old Ukrainian Petro Pochynok, who was charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to harm life.
Possible response measures are currently being discussed if this version is confirmed.
On May 8, a car that Starmer sold to his neighbor last year caught fire. The fire occurred on Kentish Town street, where Starmer lived before becoming Prime Minister and moving to Downing Street.
Then on May 11, a small fire occurred in front of the door of a house in Islington, which also has a certain connection to Starmer. On the morning of May 12, a fire occurred at the entrance of the house where Starmer lived before becoming Prime Minister, as known to the BBC, it is currently rented by Starmer's relative.
The police are still studying the possible motive of the criminals. One government official emphasized that various versions of the incident are currently being investigated, and at this stage, none of them are being ruled out. Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska stated in court that the conspiracy is «unexplained» at this time.
Although the investigation is being conducted by the counter-terrorism police department, the suspects have not been charged under criminal articles related to national security threats. They are charged with conspiracy with «unidentified persons» to commit arson and intent to endanger the lives of others, writes the FT.
During the war in Ukraine, Russia has intensified hybrid operations across Europe. Sabotage investigations are underway in Poland and Lithuania, where charges have already been filed against the accused.