The UK police announced on Tuesday the arrest of a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson, following a counter-terrorism investigation into three fires—one of which occurred at a property owned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Police were called to reports of a fire in the early hours of Monday morning at the property in Kentish Town, Camden, north London, the area that Starmer represents in parliament.
The man was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday in connection with the fire and two further incidents, police said.
They are investigating whether a vehicle fire in the same district on May 8 and a fire at the entrance of a property in a nearby area on May 11 are linked to the incident on Monday.
The man, arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, remains in custody, police said.
Officers from London’s Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command were leading the investigation due to the property’s connections with a high-profile public figure, police said.
Starmer lived in the house on a quiet street with his family before he moved into Number 10 Downing Street when he became prime minister last July.
Monday’s Fire Incidents
Counter-terrorism officers are investigating a series of suspected arson attacks targeting properties connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Emergency services responded to a fire early on Monday morning at Starmer’s privately owned home in Kentish Town, north London.
The blaze caused damage to the entrance, but no injuries were reported, according to the Metropolitan Police. Fire crews from the London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control within 20 minutes.
A separate fire occurred around 3:00 a.m. local time on Sunday at another property in nearby Islington, also linked to Starmer.
That building, converted into flats, saw a small fire at its front door. One person was led to safety by firefighters using breathing apparatus.
In addition to the two house fires, police are also investigating a third blaze involving a car on the same Kentish Town street. Firefighters responded to that incident just before 3:00 a.m. local time on Thursday.
All three incidents are being treated as suspicious. Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation “as a precaution” due to the properties’ connection to a high-profile public figure, police said.
Starmer’s spokesman confirmed the prime minister still owns the Kentish Town residence, though it has been rented out since he moved to Downing Street after the 2024 general election.
Starmer previously lived there and had been the target of protests at the location; last year, three individuals were convicted of public order offences following a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the house.
The prime minister has expressed gratitude to emergency services. Authorities have not disclosed who was inside the property at the time of the fire.
As of Monday afternoon, police cordons remained in place in Kentish Town, with investigators on-site and residents being allowed through.
(With inputs from Reuters)
