Moment flames engulf car outside Keir Starmer’s home as man arrested over ‘arson’ attack on TWO properties linked to PM
SHOCKING pictures show the moment flames engulfed a car near Keir Starmer's home with police arresting a man over alleged arson attacks.
Counter-terror cops have been investigating the blaze which engulfed a vehicle yards from the PM's £2million North London townhouse.
It comes after two properties in North London linked to Sir Keir Starmer were set on fire in suspected firebomb attacks.
Pictures show the car left a charred wreck after being ravaged by flames on May 8.
The night sky was turned orange as thick smoke poured into the air, leaving the vehicle completely destroyed.
The owner of the car, understood to be a neighbour of the Prime Minister, claimed that the fire started because of a faulty battery, reports the outlet.
Retired dinner lady Linda Perry told The Sun: “It’s a nightmare.
“It woke me up around 3am, I heard someone screaming fire. I saw the car and went back and got my phone.
“I was just shocked seeing that. Having two fires in such close proximity.
“This is the fourth they’ve had in this week, the Toyota. They think it was the battery."
The 80-year-old added: “When you see something like that, I’ve never seen it before.
“It’s so bright, it was very dramatic. It was just frightening because it’s so close to the other cars.
“You don’t know what might happen if the others caught light too.
“It will be nice to get back to normality around here.”
It comes after a fire erupted in the doorway of a home owned by the Prime Minister in the early hours of yesterday morning.
No one was injured and the blaze was under control swiftly.
Sir Keir now lives in his official residence at 10 Downing Street, but was seen clapping for the NHS outside the property during lockdown.
Pictures show the doorway of the home singed after the fire - with neighbours saying cops were searching gardens for a "projectile".
Counter-terror police are investigating the fire as a matter of protocol given the PM's status.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, first responders were called to a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington - a property also linked to the PM.
A man, 21, was arrested in the early hours of the morning today on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Cops confirmed that he remains in custody and his arrest relates to three incidents.
A Met Police spokesperson said: "The investigation team are also considering two other incidents - a vehicle fire in NW5 on 8 May and a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on 11 May - and are investigating whether they may be linked to the fire in NW5 on 12 May.
"At this early stage of the investigation, officers are working to establish the circumstances of all three fires and are keeping an open mind as to whether there is any connection.
"Both incidents are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing."
London Fire Brigade responded to calls of flames at 1.11am on Monday and confirmed there was "damage" to the front of the townhouse.
Sir Keir yesterday thanked brave firefighters who tackled the blaze after a "loud bang" was heard outside the £2million London townhouse.
Met Police officers were called to the scene at 1.35am after the LFB raised the alarm.
Police cordoned off the area and described it as a “crime scene” but insist no one was hurt.
One resident told The Sun he heard a “loud bang” on Wednesday and saw a 4x4 catch fire on the opposite side if the road.
Dan Nicholson, 36, said he called police after spotting the vehicle burning.
He told The Sun: “I heard a loud noise and looked out of my window at 3am and there was a car on fire.
“I called the police and shortly afterwards the fire brigade turned up.
“It was pretty dramatic. It was mad.
“It feels like it might be related to the incident this morning.
“It seems too much of a coincidence.”
He said his brother heard a commotion around 1am yesterday morning and saw firefighters tackling a fire at the Prime Minister’s house.
A next door neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said he was awoken by a noise in the early hours.
“It was a loud bang, what sounded like glass shattering. It was scary,” he said.
Another resident, who asked not be named, also said she was woken by a bang around 2am.
The tech worker, 58, told The Sun: “I got woken by a loud noise in the early hours of the morning.
“I looked out of the window and saw flashing lights and heard police sirens.
“There’s been lots of forensics outside all day. It seems like they’re taking it very seriously.”
It was a loud bang, what sounded like glass shattering. It was scary
Anonymous resident
Charles Grant, 66, told the Telegraph: "Police searched my garden and said they were looking for something somebody had thrown but they didn’t find anything.
"They said they were looking for a projectile.
“From what other people have told me today, I gather someone threw a firebomb at Keir Starmer’s house."
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He added: "The front door and the brickwork on either side is black and charred but the door is still standing. It smells of burnt stuff.
“The police said the damage is not extensive – just needs a bit of paintwork.”
