Russia has denied any role in three fires linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer after it emerged officials were investigations the country’s possible involvement
Russia has denied any role in three fires linked to Keir Starmer after it emerged officials were investigating the country’s possible involvement.
The probe comes as three Ukrainian-born men were charged after two homes and a car were torched.
But the Kremlin has rejected accusations that it was linked to the alleged arsons, calling the suggestion “false, unsubstantiated” and “ridiculous”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov went on to say that London accuses Moscow of being behind all the bad things that happen in Britain.
He said: “You know, London is inclined to suspect Russia of involvement in all the bad things that happen in Britain. As a rule, all these suspicions are false, unsubstantiated and often ridiculous.”
READ MORE: ‘Russians may be involved in arson attacks at properties linked to Keir Starmer’
The incidents include a fire at the Prime Minister’s family home in Kentish Town and a car fire on the same street. There was also a third a fire started at an address where he used to live in north-west London.
The three men charged include Petro Pochynok, 34, who is accused of conspiring to damage by fire with intent to endanger life. The PM’s former car was set alight on May 8, a property where he once lived in Islington, North London, on May 11, and his old home in Kentish Town, which his wife’s sister rents, on May 12.
Models Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, are charged with plotting arsons between April 17 and May 13. Pochynok and Lavrynovych are Ukrainian citizens and Carpiuc is Romanian.
All three, who deny the charges against them, were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on June 6. Counter-terrorism police and prosecutors say the motive remains under investigation, while talks continue on how to respond if Russia proves to be involved.
On Saturday it emerged officials are looking possible Russian involvement in arson attacks at properties linked to the PM. A Western intelligence source told The Mirror: “Russian involvement was the first option considered after these incidents took place. There is a pattern in the past of incidents here taking place on the Kremlin’s authority and then being very flimsily covered up, if covered up at all.”
Vladimir Putin’s agents have been linked to attacks on UK soil, including the 2006 fatal poisoning of defected Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. In 2018 ex-Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were targeted with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, Wilts. Dawn Sturgess, a member of the public, died.
Britain and other Nato allies have been warned of a possible spike in attacks by Russia for supporting Kyiv.
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