A Ukrainian man accused of three arson attacks on homes and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has appeared in court and been remanded in custody.
Roman Lavrynovych, 21, from Sydenham in south London, had been charged last night by Scotland Yard with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
The Ukrainian national is accused of setting the Prime Minister’s £2million north London property alight on Monday night.
That blaze happened just days after the torching of a car and a flat which the Labour leader had previously owned. The three fires took place between May 8 and 12.
The Ukrainian appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today wearing a prison grey tracksuit, accompanied by a Ukrainian interpreter, and spoke to confirm his name and address.
Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: ‘At this stage, the alleged offence is unexplained.’
The defendant is accused of planning the arson attacks for several days, purchasing an ‘accelerant material’ in B&Q on May 6 and 8.
Ms Przybylska said: ‘The car and both properties were linked to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.’
Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pictured here in the Albanian capital Tirana on Thursday
Footage shows a dark blue Toyota Rav 4 engulfed in flames as firefighters fought the blaze on VE Day
No formal pleas were entered to three charges of arson with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, contrary to section 1(2) and (3) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, but the court heard that he denies the charges.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him in custody ahead of the next hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6.
Ms Przybykska said: ‘The defendant is charged with three offences of aggravated arson – on the 8th of May in relation to a car parked on a residential street in Kentish Town, on the 11th of May in relation to a residential property in Islington and on the 12th of May in relation to a residential property on the same street in Kentish Town as where the car was parked on the 8th of May.
‘The car and both properties were linked to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer.’
The defendant showed no emotion as the charges were read out.
He spoke to the court using an interpreter to confirm his name, date of birth, and Sydenham address, although he did not seem to know the postcode of the multiple occupancy property.
Lavrynovych was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday and has been in custody since.
Sir Keir let the four-bedroom house in Kentish Town to his sister-in-law on a peppercorn rent since he moved into Downing Street after his general election victory in July last year.
Fire damage is seen at a property formerly owned by the PM in Islington, north London
The blaze there damaged the porch of the property, but firefighters were able to bring it under control within 20 minutes, stopping it from spreading further indoors.
The doors of two homes linked to the Prime Minister in north London both suffered fire damage within 24 hours of each other.
It came after a Toyota Rav 4 on Sir Keir’s street burst into flames on VE Day – with the hybrid car being completely destroyed.
The owner of the vehicle later said he initially thought it was a battery fault.
The head of Counter Terrorism Command issued a statement following the blazes, urging any MPs who may be concerned to contact police.
Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division, said on Thursday night: ‘Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London.
‘Roman Lavrynovych has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, contrary to section 1(2) and (3) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
‘These charges relate to two fires at residential addresses in Islington on Sunday, 11 May 2025 and in Kentish Town on Monday, 12 May 2025, as well as a car fire in Kentish Town on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
The burnt out remains of the Toyota Rav 4. The owner of the car initially thought it was a battery fault
‘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.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
City mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the three fires had left the Prime Minister’s family feeling ‘frightened’ for their safety.
He told LBC Radio: ‘Don’t underestimate the ripples of fear that [his wife] Vic and the kids felt when they will have read this stuff in the paper.
‘But for the grace of God they are safe thankfully, in Downing Street, they’ve got a protection team.’
