On 24 May 2025, British counterterrorism officials began investigating whether Russia orchestrated a series of three arson attacks on properties connected to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The attacks included arson at Starmer’s north London family home, a vehicle, and a former residential property he owned. Two Ukrainian men and a Romanian national were charged with conspiracy to commit life-endangering arson, with police citing unknown accomplices. Senior UK government sources told the Financial Times they suspect these individuals were recruited by Russian operatives. Starmer characterized the attacks as assaults on democracy and shared values. This investigation aligns with a pattern of alleged Russian hybrid warfare, including sabotage of infrastructure across Western countries. Recently, Poland closed its Russian consulate in Krakow following a similar reprisal arson attack in 2024, which Russia criticized as unjust. UK authorities and Western intelligence agencies continue to assess threats related to Russian-state linked covert attacks.
Category: Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics
Subcategory: Terrorism
Incident Type: Bomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings
Country: United Kingdom
Source report: novayagazeta.eu/articles/…
