A Ukrainian man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged in connection with fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is accused of three counts of arson with intent to endanger life following the fires at various locations across north London.
The defendant, assisted by an interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address at a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
He will appear next at the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 6 June.
“At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained,” prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said on Friday.
He was arrested at an address in Sydenham, south-east London, in the early hours of Tuesday and charged on Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terror Command led the investigation because of the connections to a high-profile public figure.
In the early hours of Monday, the emergency services responded to a fire at the Kentish Town home where Sir Keir lived before becoming prime minister and moving into 10 Downing Street.
Police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at the residential address at 01:35 BST.
Damage was caused to the property’s entrance but nobody was hurt.
A car linked to Sir Keir was set alight in the early hours of Thursday, 8 May in the same street.
In the early hours of Sunday, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, which is also linked to the prime minister.
One person was assisted to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus, the fire brigade said.
