Counter-terror police lead probe into attacks on Kentish Town home where PM lived with family – fourth suspect arrested at Stansted Airport
Three men accused of orchestrating a terrifying arson campaign against Sir Keir Starmer’s properties appeared at the Old Bailey today, with one defendant dramatically refusing to leave his prison cell for the hearing.
Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Petro Pochynok, 34, along with Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26 – who was born in Ukraine – face charges over fires at two properties and a car linked to the Prime Minister in what he called “an attack on democracy.”
In extraordinary scenes at the Old Bailey, Ms Justice Cheema Grubb revealed that Pochynok had refused to attend the preliminary hearing, while his co-defendants appeared via video link from maximum security HMP Belmarsh.
KENTISH TOWN HOME TARGETED
The most serious attack occurred in the early hours of May 12, when emergency services rushed to the Prime Minister’s former family home in Kentish Town, north London – where he had lived with his wife Victoria and their two teenage children before moving to Downing Street.
Fire damage was visible at the property’s entrance, though nobody was injured in the attack on the constituency home of the Starmer, who represents Holborn and St Pancras.
The coordinated campaign also saw a car – which Starmer had previously sold to a neighbour – set ablaze on the same street four days earlier on May 8.
COUNTER-TERROR PROBE
Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command has led the investigation due to the high-profile nature of the targets, with Commander Dominic Murphy acknowledging the probe may cause concern among MPs about their own security.
The three men spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth through interpreters during today’s hearing, with all defendants remanded in custody.
A provisional trial date has been set for April 27 next year before a High Court judge, with a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for October 17.
Among the accused is Stanislav Carpiuc, a self-described model who boasted on casting website Starnow about his ambitions to become “the top male model in the world.”
Born in the small Ukrainian town of Chernivtsi, Carpiuc’s profile revealed: “I started my modelling career quite recently. I wish to enter in top of male model in the world [sic].”
The 26-year-old from Romford, east London, was arrested at Luton Airport on May 18 as he apparently attempted to leave the country.
ISLINGTON PROPERTY ATTACKED
The arson spree also targeted a property in Islington where Starmer had lived more than two decades ago, with a fire set at the front door of the converted flats on May 11.
One resident had to be led to safety by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus after the blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska told an earlier hearing that all properties and the vehicle “were linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer,” though the motive for the attacks remains unexplained.
CHARGES LAID OUT
Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, faces the most serious charges – three counts of arson with intent to endanger life for the attacks on May 8, May 11 and May 12.
Carpiuc, from Romford, and Pochynok, of Islington, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life between April 17 and May 13.
The conspiracy charge specifically states they conspired “together with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and others unknown to damage by fire property belonging to another… intending to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered.”
In a significant development, police arrested a fourth person – a 48-year-old man – at Stansted Airport on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed he has been released on bail until next month as the investigation continues.
PM’S DEFIANT RESPONSE
Speaking in Parliament after the attacks, the Prime Minister delivered a defiant message, declaring: “This was an attack on all of us, on our democracy and the values we stand for.
The condemnation was echoed across the House of Commons, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch describing the attacks as “completely unacceptable.
DENIED IN INTERVIEW
During police interviews, Lavrynovych denied setting the fires, with prosecutor Przybylska confirming “at this point, there is no explanation for the crimes.”
She added that while educational assessments may be needed for the defendants, “the issues in the case were likely to be narrow ones.
MAXIMUM SECURITY MEASURES
The high-profile nature of the case has seen all three defendants held at HMP Belmarsh, Britain’s highest-security prison typically reserved for terrorism suspects and the most dangerous criminals.
Both Lavrynovych and Carpiuc were driven to their initial court appearances in unmarked police vans under heavy escort, underlining the seriousness with which authorities are treating the case.
UKRAINE CONNECTION
The fact that all three men have Ukrainian connections has added an international dimension to the investigation, though authorities have not suggested any political motive at this stage.
Carpiuc’s Starnow profile reveals he was born in western Ukraine, while both Lavrynovych and Pochynok are Ukrainian nationals living in London.
As the investigation continues and with a fourth suspect on bail, questions remain about whether this was an isolated attack or part of a wider conspiracy targeting the Prime Minister and his family.
The case returns to court in October, when the defendants are expected to enter their pleas ahead of next year’s high-profile trial.
