A 21-year-old Ukrainian man has appeared in court charged with a series of arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Roman Lavrynovych, who was driven to court in an unmarked van under police escort, is charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
He was arrested at an address in Sydenham, south-east London, in the early hours of Tuesday and charged on Thursday evening.
The Ukrainian national wore a prison issue grey track suit as he appeared in the glass-fronted dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Police outside the property in Kentish Town
PA
He spoke through an interpreter to confirm his name, address and date of birth, before the charges were read out in court.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terror Command have led the investigation due to the connections with the Prime Minister.
The charges relate to two fires at residential addresses in Islington on May 11 and in Kentish Town on May 12, as well as a car fire on the same street as the house fire in Kentish Town on May 8.
In the early hours of Monday, the emergency services responded to a fire at the Kentish Town home where Sir Keir Starmer lived before becoming Prime Minister last year.
A forensics officer with a dog is seen in Kentish Town, north London. Police are investigating a fire at Sir Keir Starmer'PADamage was caused to the property’s entrance, but nobody was hurt.
A car, which Starmer had previously sold to a neighbour on the street, was set alight overnight on May 8.
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.
The property had previously been owned by Starmer more than two decades ago.
A police officer is seen in Kentish Town, north London. Police are investigating a fire at Sir Keir Starmer's house in north London
PA
A resident in the building had to be led to safety by firefighters in breathing apparatus.
After a short 15 minute hearing, Lavrynovych was remanded back into custody.
He will appear at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey on June 6.
