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Second Man Charged, Third Arrested in Arson Attacks Linked to UK Prime Minister’s Former Residences
British police have charged a second man and arrested a third in connection with a string of arson attacks targeting properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Metropolitan Police announced Tuesday that Stanislav Carpiuc, a 26-year-old Romanian national from Romford, east London, has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Carpiuc was arrested on Saturday at Luton Airport and is expected to appear in court in the coming days.
His arrest follows the earlier charging of Roman Lavrynovych, a 21-year-old Ukrainian national, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Friday. Lavrynovych faces three counts of arson with intent to endanger life but did not enter a plea during the hearing. He reportedly denied the allegations in a police interview.
In a further development, a third man, aged 34, was arrested in Chelsea, west London, on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Police have not released his identity or nationality, and he remains in custody for questioning.
The charges and arrests relate to three separate incidents that occurred between 8 and 12 May. These include a fire at Starmer’s private residence in Kentish Town, north London, a vehicle fire on the same street, and a blaze at a property in northwest London where Starmer previously lived. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
Following his election victory in July, Starmer and his family relocated to 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister. Responding to the incidents, Starmer described the attacks as “an assault on all of us, on our democracy and the values we stand for.”
While police have yet to publicly confirm the motive behind the arson attacks, the incidents have raised concerns amid heightened warnings from Western security agencies. Intelligence officials have recently cautioned about the threat of covert operations, including acts of sabotage and arson, potentially linked to Russian intelligence services.
In a speech last November, MI6 chief Richard Moore described Russia’s efforts as a “staggeringly reckless” sabotage campaign. More recently, in April, Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Moscow of “recruiting spies to undertake acts of arson and sabotage on UK soil” as part of a broader campaign of hostility against Britain.
Investigations into the recent fires remain ongoing as police work to determine whether foreign state actors may have played a role.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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