The Prime Minister and other public figures must be “properly protected” said Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, as a 21-year-old man was arrested over suspected arson attacks on properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer. Metropolitan Police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Anti-terror officers are leading inquiries.
Emergency services were called to fires at two homes in north London, including a £2 million property which Sir Keir is understood to be renting to his sister-in-law and her family. Officers are also investigating whether these are linked to a blaze involving a car. Mr Jenrick said: “It’s important that the Prime Minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected.
“We have robust disagreements in politics but I want to ensure anyone who chooses to go in to public life feels that they’ll be properly protected and that we have civility in our debate.
“It is absolutely wrong, disgraceful, for any individual to take the kind of action that we saw against the Prime Minister’s home.”
Emergency services dealt with a small fire just after 3am on Sunday morning at the front door of an Islington house linked to Sir Keir that had been converted into flats. One person was assisted to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus.
Police were then alerted by London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a Kentish Town property around 1.35am on Monday. This is where Sir Keir lived before moving into 10 Downing Street following Labour’s election victory last year, and it is believed the property is now rented to his sister-in-law.
Damage was caused to the home’s entrance but nobody was hurt.
A police cordon and officers, as well as investigators from the London Fire Brigade, could be seen outside the property on Monday morning. Neighbours described hearing a loud bang and said police officers were looking for a projectile.
Charles Grant, 66, told reporters: “Police searched my garden and said they were looking for something somebody had thrown but they didn’t find anything. They 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.”
A major car fire also broke out just yards from the Kentish Town home at around 3am on Thursday May 8. A doorbell camera captured the moment a dark blue Toyota Rav 4 was engulfed in flames as firefighters fought the blaze on VE Day last Thursday. The owner of the vehicle is understood to have thought that the fire started because of a faulty battery. The hybrid car was completely destroyed.
Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: “I can only say that the Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work and it is subject to a live investigation. So I can’t comment any further.”
Police said in a statement: “As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it. All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing.”
In June last year, three pro-Palestine protesters avoided jail after demonstrating outside Sir Keir’s house.
Leonorah Ward, of Leeds, Zosia Lewis, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Daniel Formentin, of Leeds, hung a banner outside the London property that read, “Starmer stop the killing”, surrounded by red handprints, on April 9 2024.
The trio were found guilty under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 after a one-day trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
They were each sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £200 in legal costs.
