A third Ukrainian man has been charged in a police probe into a series of fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer.
On Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Petro Pochynok, 34, had been charged with the following:
- Conspiring together with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and others unknown to damage by fire property belonging to another;
- Intending to damage the property;
- Intending to endanger the life or another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered.
Pochynok was arrested on Monday in the Chelsea area, west London, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life - and has been named following his charges today.
Shortly before 10am on Wednesday, he was driven to Westminster Magistrates' Court in an unmarked police van under police escort.
The 34-year-old appeared in the glass-fronted dock in court number two at Westminster Magistrates' wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit.
Speaking through an interpreter, he spoke only to confirm his name, address, and date of birth.
Petro Pochynok is accused of conspiring with two other Ukrainians, Stanislav Carpiuc (left) and Roman Lavrynovych
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As part of the same investigation, Lavrynovych, 21, has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 16 and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on June 6.
Meanwhile, Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, a Romanian national from Ukraine, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and will appear at the Old Bailey on the same day as Lavrynovych.
The trio's charges all relate to a series of fires at properties linked to the Prime Minister between mid-April and early May this year.
KEIR STARMER HOUSE FIRES - READ MORE:
Stanislav Carpiuc appeared at Westminster Magistrates' on Tuesday
PA
The first blaze involved a car once owned by Starmer on May 8.
The vehicle, which he had previously sold to a neighbour on the street, was set alight overnight.
The second erupted at a flat in which the future Prime Minister lived during the 1990s in north London on May 11.
A resident in the building had to be led to safety by firefighters in breathing apparatus.
The third fire took place at Keir Starmer's family home in Tufnell Park, also in north London, on May 12
PA
The third took place at his family home in Tufnell Park, also in north London, on May 12.
Downing Street's line on the ongoing probe is: "The Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work.
"The incident is subject to a live investigation and we won't be commenting further."
