Counter-terrorism officers are said to be investigating whether a hostile foreign state could be behind a string of suspected arson attacks targeting Sir Keir Starmer
Counter-terror detectives are investigating the possibility that a foreign adversary could be orchestrating a series of suspected arson offences aimed at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, The Telegraph has disclosed.
Following a string of incidents targeting properties and a vehicle associated with the Labour leader, police apprehended a 21 year old man on Tuesday. The identity and nationality of the suspect remain undisclosed as he was taken into custody by police in Sydenham, south-east London, a considerable distance from the north London locations of the attacks.
Officers from Scotland Yard’s top-tier SO15 Counter Terrorism Command have been interrogating the man, with police confirming that all avenues of investigation are being pursued. This includes potential terroristic motives – whether associated with Islamist, extreme right-wing or left-wing ideologies – and even conjectures about interference from an overseas nation.
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Despite these troubling events, the Prime Minister is reported to be kept abreast of the swiftly unfolding probe while he carries on with his duties.
With the supposed conspiracy exhibiting indications of “sophistication,” as one high-ranking police official pointed out, there is growing unease regarding how the assailant discovered two locations historically linked to Sir Keir, reports the Express.
In a rare move, Commander Dominic Murphy, the chief of the Counter Terrorism Command, has publicly called on any MPs with concerns to step forward.
He stated: “We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these. A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked, due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure.”
Additionally, he said: “We recognise that this investigation may cause concern to other public figures, particularly MPs. The protection of MPs is something we take extremely seriously across the whole of policing and I would encourage any MP who is concerned about their own safety to get in touch with their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.”
Downing Street has maintained silence on the specifics of the incidents while not dismissing the possibility of foreign interference.
The string of crimes started early last Thursday when a Toyota Rav 4 – once belonging to the Prime Minister – was torched close to the Starmer family residence in Tufnell Park.
It’s believed that Sir Keir offloaded the vehicle to a neighbouring resident following his election triumph; yet, it had been under his family’s charge for a good number of years. The car caught media attention back in 2020 owing to a minor scrape with a Deliveroo bike rider.
Then, two days on, there was an alleged arson attack on the entrance of a flat previously part-shared by Sir Keir in the ’90s. Regardless of its sale in 1997, the ex-Labour leader’s name is still associated with the property’s freehold via a Companies House register.
In the latest incident, a firebomb attack was launched at the Starmers’ previous family home in north London during the early hours of Monday. The property, currently rented by Lady Starmer’s sister, sustained substantial damage to its front door and entrance, though thankfully no one was harmed.
The connection between all three targets and Sir Keir has sparked concerns about whether these attacks were personally motivated or part of a more ominous scheme.
Authorities are persisting with their investigation into whether the suspect acted independently or was part of a wider network.