Second man appears in court over fires at properties and car linked to prime minister

A second man has appeared in court charged in connection with a series of fires linked to Sir Keir Starmer.

Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc was remanded in custody after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday accused of arson with intent to endanger life. He has been charged with conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and others unknown to "damage by fire property belonging to another, intending to damage the property, and intending to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered".

The 26-year-old, from Romford, east London, was arrested by counter-terrorism officers at Luton Airport on Saturday as he tried to travel to Romania, the court heard. With the help of a Russian interpreter, Carpiuc, who was born in Ukraine, spoke only to confirm his identity in a short hearing.

The charge relates to three fires. Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London.

One occurred during 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 in the same street four days earlier on 8 May.

The other fire took place on 11 May at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington. Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: "At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained." The court heard Carpiuc gave a no comment interview to police.

Defending, Jay Nutkins said his client has lived in the UK for nine years and is currently waiting for his degree results having studied business at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent. He denies being present at the scene of any of the fires, the court was told.

Carpiuc, who was supported by his father in court, was said to work in construction. He will next appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national from Sydenham in southeast London, has already been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the fires. He denied the charges in a police interview.

Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last Friday and was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the Old Bailey also scheduled for 6 June. A third man, aged 34, was arrested in Chelsea in southwest London on Monday on suspicion of arson.

He remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police said..