Footage shows a car ablaze in Keir Starmer’s street days before a fire at his private home, with Scotland Yard arresting a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson
Shocking footage shows a car ablaze in Keir Starmer’s street — days before a fire at his private home
Flames and smoke billow from the vehicle in the north London street — just a stone’s throw from the PM’s property. In the dramatic scene, firefighters can be seen tackling the fire.
A neighbour who took the footage in the early hours of Thursday morning spoke of her shock. Retired dinner lady Linda Perry, who has lived on the steer for over three decades, told how the first she heard of the blaze was “someone screaming fire”.
Asked how she felt, Linda said: “Bit of a shock, I suppose.” But the 80-year-old said she was not scared, adding: “I’m too old to get scared now. Well, I’m in my house, ain’t I? I’m not out here.”
She also highlighted the the potential danger if the fire spread to other vehicles, adding: “That would have been the frightening bit.”
It comes after a man was arrested in connection with an alleged arson attack at the PM’s north London home. The Metropolitan Police said the 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of this morning in connection with three alleged attacks. It follows fires at two properties linked to the Prime Minister as well as a nearby vehicle.
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The two properties were damaged within 24 hours of each other, while there was a vehicle fire last Thursday. Scotland Yard said the suspect, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I just woke up at 3am and… the car was already on fire.” She added: “The firefighters arrived in like six minutes, more or less — it was very quick.”
Describing the scene, she said: “There was an alarm at the beginning. But, of course, you are sleeping so you don’t think it’s [a] fire.”
She added: “At some point I heard this noise, I thought it was like heavy rain coming and wind. And then there was like a bang and I thought, wait, what’s going on?
“So I woke up and the light was kind of… red. So I opened the curtain and I saw that there was a fire. It was a bit concerning more the fact that… the risk of an explosion… so I just kept away from the windows.”
Asked about the bang she heard, the neighbour explained: “It was not [a] huge bang but it was kind of a bang…” She added: “You can see that the tree is all ruined because of the fire.”
Police are investigating whether the fires were linked, with counter-terrorism officers leading the inquiry as the properties have connections to a high-profile public figure. Scotland Yard is also looking into a vehicle fire on May 8 as part of the probe.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had been briefed about the suspected arson attacks. She told BBC Breakfast: “You are right that the police are investigating these incidents, and they have my full support in doing so.
“I have been briefed about these incidents but you will understand, as Home Secretary I obviously cannot comment in any detail on the investigations that are ongoing. We need to support the police in those investigations. The Prime Minister has thanked the emergency services.
“We really do have excellent police teams in this country who work on these investigations, and we will support them in that work.”
The London Fire Brigade, which attended the property, managed to get the blaze under control around 20 minutes after receiving a call at 1:11am on Monday. Neighbours were said to hear a “loud bang” during the night and woke to see flashing lights and sirens.
The PM’s property has previously been targeted by protestors. A next door neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, reportedly said he was woken up in the early hours of the morning to a loud bang. “It was a loud bang, what sounded like glass shattering. It was scary,” he said.
Another resident, 58, who also didn’t want to be named, reportedly said: “I got woken by a loud noise in the early hours of the morning. I looked out of the window and saw flashing lights and heard police sirens.
“There’s been lots of forensics outside all day. It seems like they’re taking it very seriously.” Another resident, Dan Nicholson, 36, reportedly saw a car catch fire last Wednesday and questioned whether the incidents were connected.
“I heard a loud noise and looked out of my window at 3am and there was a car on fire,” he said. “I called the police and shortly afterwards the fire brigade turned up. It was pretty dramatic. It was mad.
“It feels like it might be related to the incident this morning. It seems too much of a coincidence.” A Downing Street spokesman said on Monday: “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.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News: “Well, it’s obviously a very concerning story, and it’s right that the police take it very seriously. I can’t comment on a live police investigation. I don’t know the details but it’s important that the Prime Minister and anyone in public life has their family, their homes, protected.
“We have robust disagreements in politics, but I want to ensure anyone who chooses to go into public life feels that they’ll be properly protected and that we have civility in our debate. It is absolutely wrong, disgraceful, for any individual to take the kind of action that we saw against the Prime Minister’s home.”
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