Ukrainian man remanded in custody over fires at properties and car linked to PM

A Ukrainian national has been remanded in custody following fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Roman Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court after being charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

The 21-year-old lives in the southeast London suburb of Sydenham.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation because of the connections to the prime minister.

Emergency services were called to a fire in the early hours of Monday at a house in Kentish Town, north London, where Sir Keir lived with his family before the election.

Damage was caused to the property's entrance, but nobody was hurt.

A car was also set alight in the same street last Thursday.

There was another blaze at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington, also linked to the prime minister, on Sunday.

One person was taken to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus.

The head of the Crown Prosecution Service counter terrorism division, Bethan David, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial."