Student accused of setting fire to Keir Starmer properties in court

A Romanian student accused of setting fire to a car and two residential properties linked to Keir Starmer has been remanded in custody.

Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, was detained at Luton Airport on Saturday and charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life following a series of fires in north London.

Carpiuc, of Romford, east London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Wearing a turquoise hoodie and green trousers, the clean-shaven Carpiuc spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address, assisted by a Romanian interpreter.

He allegedly conspired with Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 21, who appeared in court last Friday.

Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said: ‘On 8 May, a car previously owned by the Prime Minister was set on fire on Countess Road in Kentish Town.

’On 11 May, a residential property in Islington formerly owned by the Prime Minister was set on fire and on 12 May, a residential property owned by the Prime Minister was set on fire.

‘The property is on Countess Road, the same street in Kentish Town where the vehicle had been set on fire four days earlier.’

The prosecutor added: ‘The defendant is a Romanian national, he was born in Ukraine.

‘He was arrested at the airport, he was to fly on a one way ticket to Romania, the ticket was booked the day before, he activated a new sim on the same day, he stayed in a hotel at Luton Airport the night before he was due to fly, the room was booked by someone else on his behalf, his room in a shared house was searched by police, and his belongings had all been packed up, the implication is that he had no intention of returning to this country.’

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded Carpiuc in custody to appear with Lavrynovych at a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

Carpiuc had attended Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, where he studied Business and is awaiting his results.

He had been working in construction since completing the course in January and moved to Romford.

Lavrynovych, who worked a roofer, is said to have bought fuel from B&Q days before carrying out three attacks.

A third man, 34, was arrested in Chelsea on Monday on suspicion of arson and remains in custody.