A man has been arrested over a fire at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's
private house
[May 13, 2025]
LONDON (AP) — Police arrested a 21-year-old man Tuesday on
suspicion of starting fires at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's
private house, another property linked to Starmer and a car.
The Metropolitan Police force said the suspect was detained on suspicion
of arson with intent to endanger life a day after an early-morning fire
on Monday damaged the door of the house where Starmer and his family
lived before he was elected to lead the country. |
Police Community Support Officers stand near the fire damaged doorway of
a house belonging to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kentish Town
in London, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) |
|
Police said that the arrest also concerns two other fires that
may be linked — a vehicle fire near Starmer's house on Sunday
and a May 8 door fire at a property in another part of north
London. The second property is a house converted into apartments
and also is linked to Starmer.
No injuries were reported from any of the fires.
Starmer doesn't currently live in his private house. Since
taking office in July, Starmer has lived with his family in the
prime minister’s official Downing Street residence.
The Metropolitan Police force said that counterterrorism
detectives were leading the investigation because of the house’s
“previous connections with a high-profile public figure.”
Neighbor Charles Grant said that police searched his yard on
Monday and “said they were looking for a projectile.”
“From what other people have told me today, I gather someone
threw a firebomb at Keir Starmer’s house," he said.
Starmer’s house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year,
three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with
public order offenses after unfurling a banner covered in red
handprints outside the building.
The main opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch of the Conservative
Party, called it “a shocking incident.”
"No one should face these sorts of threats, let alone people in
public service," she posted on X. “It’s an attack on our
democracy and must never be tolerated.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
|
