Man in court over fires at homes and car linked to Starmer

The charges against Roman Lavrynovych relate to three incidents spanning a four-day period

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, who the BBC understands is a builder and roofer, is accused of three counts of arson with intent to endanger life following the fires at locations in north London. He did not enter any pleas to the charges.

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.

Ms Przybylska also told the court that Lavrynovych was interviewed under caution after his arrest and denied arson.

The court also heard that accelerant, preliminarily deemed to be of a "slow burning nature", was used in at least one of the fires.

Mr Lavrynovych was arrested at an address in Sydenham 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.

The BBC understands the property is rented to the prime minister's sister-in-law.

Four days earlier, on 8 May, a car that Sir Keir sold to a neighbour last year was set alight on 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.