Two men deny plotting arson attacks on Keir Starmer’s properties

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

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

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

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

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

The men appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Belmarsh prison.

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

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’.

Carpiuc was not asked to entered his plea to the same charge.

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 offenses were ‘somewhat opaque’, adding: ‘Plainly they are co-ordinated and must have some motive or purpose behind them’.

All three defendants were remanded in custody.

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

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

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

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