Two men deny plotting arson attacks against Keir Starmer’s property

Two men have pleaded not guilty to plotting a series of arson attacks on property linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Ukrainians Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Petro Pochynok, 35, are accused of targeting two properties and a car along with a third defendant, Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27.

Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London – one in the early hours of 12 May at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street.

A car was set alight on the same street four days earlier, on 8 May.

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The other fire was on 11 May at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.

On Friday, the defendants appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Belmarsh prison before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.

Mr Lavrynovych and Mr Pochynok pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life between 1 April and 13 May.

The charge alleges that the defendants, “together with others”, conspired to damage by fire property “belonging to another and intending to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to the life of another would thereby be endangered”.

Mr Carpiuc was not asked to enter his plea to the same charge.

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The prosecution indicated that the case was not being treated as having a terrorist connection.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the circumstances of the alleged offences were “somewhat opaque”, adding: “Plainly they are co-ordinated and must have some motive or purpose behind them.”

The three defendants were remanded in custody.

A provisional trial has already been set for 27 April next year in front of a High Court judge.

A further hearing in the case will take place on 28 November.

Mr Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, Mr Carpiuc, of Romford, east London, and Mr Pochynok, of Islington, north London, were assisted by interpreters in court.