LONDON — British counterterrorism officers on Tuesday were investigating fires on two properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson with "intent to endanger life."
Emergency services were called to small fires outside the two properties in North London on Sunday and Monday. British media reported that one of the addresses is Starmer’s private home, while the other was previously owned by him.
Firefighters also dealt with a car fire near one of the properties last Thursday.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement Tuesday that officers from the Counter Terrorism Command were leading the investigation into the three incidents due to “connections with a high-profile public figure.”
There were no reports of injuries. Starmer and his family live in the prime minister's official residence at No. 10 Downing St.
“I can only say that Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work and it is subject to a live investigation," the prime minister’s spokesperson said.
Lawmakers from all sides of British politics were quick to condemn the incidents.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch offered her support to Starmer and his family, called them “shocking” and adding that an “attack on our democracy ... must never be tolerated.”
While full details of the suspect weren't released, including his motive, the arson attacks have inflamed fears that extremist sentiments against politicians are on the rise, with two British lawmakers having been killed in the last nine years.
A self-described “political activist” shouted, “This is for Britain” before shooting and stabbing Labour lawmaker Jo Cox in Birstall, northern England, on June 16, 2016 — one week before a vote on the divisive Brexit referendum.
Conservative lawmaker David Amess was meeting with constituents when he was stabbed more than 20 times by an Islamic State supporter in Leigh-on-Sea, eastern England, on Oct. 15, 2021.
A report released by Britain’s Electoral Commission after last year’s general and local elections found 56% of respondents reported some kind of abuse or intimidation, such as physical threats, racist abuse and threats, toward family, friends and staff.
Interim CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation, Will Fletcher, told NBC News: “All elected representatives should be able to undertake their role free from abuse or intimidation, and that violence towards elected representatives or their property is completely unacceptable.”
The suspect in the arson attacks will face court at a later date, police said.
