Starmer condemns fires as 'attack on democracy'

Sir Keir Starmer has told MPs suspected arson attacks connected properties linked to him are "an onslaught connected each of us, connected ideology and the values that we basal for".

Conservative person Kemi Badenoch condemned the attacks arsenic "completely unacceptable" astatine the opening of their play Prime Minister's Questions clash.

Police are continuing their probe into the fires astatine northbound London properties and a car linked to Sir Keir.

Officers person been granted 36 hours other clip to question a 21-year-old man, who was arrested connected suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, successful the aboriginal hours of Tuesday astatine an code successful Sydenham, south-east London.

A warrant of further detention was granted astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court connected Wednesday, meaning the fishy tin beryllium questioned until Friday morning, and helium remains successful custody astatine a London constabulary station.

Counter-terrorism officers are moving "at pace" to found the origin of the fires and "any imaginable motivation", Scotland Yard said.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Badenoch told the PM: "I deliberation I talk for the full location erstwhile I accidental that this wasn't conscionable an onslaught connected him, but connected each of america and connected our democracy."

Sir Keir thanked the absorption person for contacting him "pretty good consecutive away" to lend her support.

In his archetypal comments since the attacks, the premier curate said: "I truly bash admit that, and she's perfectly close that this is an onslaught connected each of us, connected ideology and the values that we basal for."

Liberal Democrat person Sir Ed Davey said: "Can I connection our enactment to the premier curate and his household aft the appalling arson attacks connected his home.

"And tin I echo his acknowledgment to our superb constabulary and firefighters."

Emergency services responded to a occurrence astatine the premier minister's backstage location successful Kentish Town, northbound London, aboriginal connected Monday.

On Sunday, crews were called to a tiny occurrence astatine the beforehand doorway of a location converted into flats successful adjacent Islington - a spot Sir Keir is understood to person lived successful during the 1990s.

Police are besides looking astatine a car occurrence which took spot connected Thursday connected the aforesaid thoroughfare arsenic the Kentish Town property. It is understood that the car utilized to beryllium to Sir Keir.

The premier curate is understood to inactive ain the location successful Kentish Town but lives successful Downing Street. He lived determination earlier the 2024 wide predetermination and it has been rented retired since then.

Counter-terrorism constabulary are starring the enquiry and are treating the fires arsenic suspicious.

Commander Dominic Murphy, caput of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, acknowledged the probe whitethorn origin interest to MPs.

He encouraged immoderate of them disquieted astir their information to get successful interaction with Operation Bridger, the specializer portion acceptable up to support MPs.