'FIREBOMB' PROBE
Keir Starmer’s sister-in-law lives at home where ‘arsonist’ with a ‘grudge’ set ‘door on fire & torched PM’s car’
Horrified neighbours heard a loud 'bang' as the blaze erupted in the early hours of Monday morning
A CAR burnt in a suspected arson attack did belong to Keir Starmer, as cops arrest man over three arson attacks targeting the PM.
Counter-terror cops have been investigating three blazes including one at Sir Keir Starmer's £2million North London townhouse.
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The Toyota Rav 4, which was parked in the same street as Sir Keir Starmer’s family home, was damaged in a blaze last Thursday.
As reported by the , the car once belonged to Keir Starmer, but had been sold on to a neighbour.
The Toyota was the same vehicle driven by the PM when he was involved in an incident with a Deliveroo driver in Camden in 2020.
It comes after two incidents saw houses in North London linked to Sir Keir set on fire in suspected "firebomb" attacks.
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An accelerant was used to douse the front doors of the two homes before they were set alight.
It has also now emerged one of the properties, a four-bedroom house in Tufnell Park, is rented to his sister-in-law.
It is understood since moving into Downing Street Keir Starmer has been renting out the property to his sister-in-law and her family.
It does not have to be declared on the PM's register of interests because the rental income does not meet the £10,000-a-year threshold.
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Counter terror cops investigating the trio of attacks now believe the arsonist bore a personal grudge against Sir Keir for unknown reasons.
A 21-year-old man arrested in the early hours of this morning is today being held in custody on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Pictures revealed how the car was left a charred wreck just yards from the Prime Minister's home 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.
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.”
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Sir Keir yesterday thanked brave firefighters who tackled the blaze after a "loud bang" was heard outside the £2million London townhouse.
No one was injured and the blaze was under control swiftly during the fire on Monday.
The PM now lives in his official residence at 10 Downing Street, but was seen clapping for the NHS outside the property during lockdown.
The home is reportedly being rented to his sister-in-law on a peppercorn rent, according to the Telegraph.
The rental agreement is declared through the ministerial register of interests - but it is understood because the rent is below the £10,000-a-year threshold it is not on the MPs’ register.
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 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.
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.
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“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 : "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.”
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