Petro Pochynok, 34, was detained in Chelsea on Monday and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. He becomes the third individual charged in connection with a series of alleged arson attacks targeting two properties and a vehicle connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Petro Pochynok, from north London, faces charges of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. His arrest in west London took place on Monday, with a court appearance set for Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.
He is the second Ukrainian national implicated in these incidents, following Roman Lavrynovych, 21, from Romford, who has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
A Romanian national, Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, also from Romford, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Both Lavrynovych and Carpiuc appeared before magistrates on 16 and 20 May, respectively, were remanded in custody, and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.
Pochynok is accused of collaborating with the other two defendants “and others unknown” to damage a property by setting it on fire, intending to do so, “as well as intending to or being reckless with regards to whether lives were endangered,” according to police.
The charges concern three fires that occurred between 8 and 12 May in north London. The latest fire happened in the early hours of 12 May at a residence in Kentish Town where the prime minister previously lived with his family before the election. The fire caused damage to the entrance of the property, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Another fire involving a vehicle on the same street took place on 8 May.
A further blaze occurred at the front door of a house connected to Sir Keir in Islington on 11 May. During this incident, emergency crews wearing breathing apparatus evacuated one person to safety via an internal staircase.
The investigation into these fires is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, due to the involvement of such a high-profile public figure.
