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Monday, February 23, 2026

Tag: Arson
February 13, 2026
Crime
News

WATCH: Extremist Sets Fire to Building Considered for Conversion to ICE Detention Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A woman attempted to set fire to a Kansas City warehouse rumored to be a potential ICE detention center.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The unidentified woman, Platform Ventures, local officials, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred at the 49 Crossing industrial facility in Kansas City, Missouri.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Platform Ventures is not actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser involving a sale of its property at the I-49 Industrial Center.” – Platform Ventures statement.

🎯IMPACT: The property will not be sold to DHS, and local leaders continue opposing the use of warehouses as detention centers.

IN FULL

A woman was captured on surveillance video attempting to set fire to a warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri, that had been rumored as a possible immigration detention facility. Footage shared by local outlet KMBC shows the woman, dressed in sandals, jeans, a short-sleeve black shirt, and carrying a small backpack, pouring an accelerant along the side of the building before striking a match. A second container of accelerant is visible near her feet.

The warehouse is located within the 49 Crossing industrial complex and had previously been considered for sale for potential use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an immigration detention center. However, the property owner, Platform Ventures, announced Thursday that it would not proceed with the sale.

Rumors first surfaced in January that the site could be converted into a federal immigration detention facility. The prospect drew opposition from local activists and leftist officials. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) said at the time, “I will continue with our legislative, legal efforts and community engagement to ensure no warehouse or similar facility in Kansas City or nearby is converted to a mass encampment warehouse of persons that is offensive to the dignity and human rights of those who would be detained within it.”

In a February 12 statement, Platform Ventures said, “Platform Ventures is not actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser involving a sale of its property at the I-49 Industrial Center.” The company explained that negotiations had initially been conducted with a private third party but later discovered the buyer was the U.S. Government. It ultimately declined to move forward.

The arson attack comes amid heightened tensions nationwide over immigration enforcement and the expansion of detention facilities. In recent months, leftist activists have clashed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at various sites across the country, including protests that escalated into confrontations outside detention facilities. Federal officials have also confirmed investigations into organized anti-ICE activist networks.

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February 6, 2026
Crime
News

Young Woman Set on Fire by Career Criminal in Chicago Finally Leaves Hospital.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A woman who was set on fire on a Chicago subway train has been released from the hospital three months after the attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victim Bethany MaGee, 26, and suspect Lawrence Reed, 50.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in November 2025 on Chicago’s Blue Line subway; MaGee was hospitalized at Stroger Hospital.

💬KEY QUOTE: “My family and I are grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has offered support, kindness, and encouragement during this time.” – Bethany MaGee

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns about judicial leniency after the suspect, who has a lengthy criminal record, was released despite warnings from prosecutors.

IN FULL

Bethany MaGee, 26, has been released from Stroger Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, nearly three months after she was set on fire during a brutal, random attack on a CTA Blue Line subway train. MaGee suffered burns to roughly 60 percent of her body in the November 2025 attack, which prosecutors allege was carried out by Lawrence Reed, 50.

In a statement marking her discharge, MaGee expressed appreciation for those who supported her during her recovery. “My family and I are grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has offered support, kindness, and encouragement during this time,” she said. She also praised the medical staff, thanking the Stroger Hospital burn team for their “exceptional care, compassion, and expertise.”

Prosecutors say Reed poured gasoline on MaGee inside the subway car and ignited it while yelling, “Burn alive, b***h!” Surveillance video reportedly captured the attack. MaGee was able to escape the train at the Clark and Lake station, where bystanders rushed to help extinguish the flames and provide aid until emergency responders arrived.

Reed had a lengthy criminal history, with authorities saying he had been arrested more than 70 times prior to the attack. Prosecutors had previously warned that he posed a serious threat and that his next offense would “likely be violent.” Despite those warnings, he was released from custody by liberal Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez following an earlier arrest in August 2025, who said dismissively, “I understand your position, but I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.”

The attack has intensified scrutiny of judicial decisions in Chicago, particularly regarding repeat offenders. Federal officials have warned city leaders that Chicago could risk losing federal transit funding if stronger safety measures are not implemented on public transportation following a series of violent incidents.

The case has also drawn comparisons to other high-profile transit crimes, including the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in 2025, allegedly by a black male who shouted “I got that white girl” following the attack.

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January 2, 2026
News

‘F*ck Trump’ Arson Attack Destroys D.C. Home of Military Servicemen & Infant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two active-duty U.S. Space Force officers returned home to find their residence vandalized, robbed, and intentionally set on fire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jason and Kaylee Taylor, both active-duty U.S. Space Force officers, along with their infant daughter, Rae.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, at their residence in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While they were out of town, their home was broken into, robbed, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire.” – GoFundMe page

🎯IMPACT: The family lost nearly all possessions, including clothing, furniture, and keepsakes, and their cat, Marlee, perished in the fire.

IN FULL

Jason and Kaylee Taylor, two members of the United States Space Force, were the victims of an allegedly politically motivated attack while they were away from their residence over the weekend before the New Year’s holiday.

The two active-duty Space Force officers returned to their Washington, D.C. home to find it had been broken into, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire, according to their account of the incident posted on a GoFundMe page raising money for the couple and their child.

The Taylors returned to find their residence destroyed by fire, including their pet cat being murdered in the process. Their vehicle was also vandalized with spray-painted messages reading “F*ck Trump” and “F*ck the Space Force.” The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, near the Congressional Cemetery in D.C.’s Southeast.

Image from GoFundMe

“While they were out of town, their home was broken into, robbed, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire,” the GoFundMe page states. The family lost clothing, furniture, baby items, keepsakes, and other essentials. Tragically, their family cat, Marlee, died in the fire. “Kaylee and Jason… and their beautiful baby girl, Rae, lost pretty much everything they owned,” the fundraiser adds.

The Taylors were not physically harmed. “We are incredibly grateful that Kaylee, Jason, and Rae were not home at the time and are physically safe,” the page says. However, they now face the challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Donations are being sought to cover immediate needs and recovery costs, including “temporary housing and living expenses” and “replacing basic necessities.”

The GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $86,000 as of the time of publication, and the incident remains under investigation.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
I donated to the GoFundMe and, given the family’s proximity to Capitol Hill, offered to buy them a meal (or more, frankly, if they want) at Butterworth’s
for exclusive members-only insights
I donated to the GoFundMe and, given the family’s proximity to Capitol Hill, offered to buy them a meal (or more, frankly, if they want) at Butterworth’s show more
for exclusive members-only insights
December 29, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Religion
World

Indian Christians Suffer Wave of Attacks Over Christmas.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: India saw a wave of anti-Christian attacks, including arson on homes and churches, over the Christmas period by Hindu extremists.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Indian Christians, Hindu extremists, members of Hindu paramilitaries.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attacks took place in various Indian states, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In states like Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, religious extremists have become increasingly violent, targeting Christians. Churches have been closed, believers attacked, pastors imprisoned on false charges of coercive conversion and Christian families displaced from their homes, simply because of their faith in Christ.” – Priya Sharma, Open Doors.

🎯IMPACT: The attacks are part of a broader wave of anti-Christian violence globally and come as Indians continue to arrive en masse in Western countries via various visa schemes.

IN FULL

Severe violent attacks against Christians were reported across India during the 2025 Christmas season, with arson attacks in Chhattisgarh emerging as the most serious episodes in a broader pattern of intimidation and disruption linked to the festive period.

In Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, a Christian family said that a mob set fire to their home and attacked local churches following a dispute over the burial of a man. Rajman Salam, a convert to Christianity, wanted to cremate his father according to Hindu custom but was denied. “I was told that I can’t have the rituals because of my Christian faith,” he said. He later tried to bury his father according to Christian ritual, which led to conflict with a Hindu mob.

According to survivor accounts, members of the mob destroyed household belongings, burned religious material, and threatened residents, forcing families to flee. The victims claimed Hindutva groups drove the violence and said police response was delayed, leaving them without immediate protection. The incident added to growing concerns about targeted attacks on Christian communities in the state, which has seen repeated clashes linked to burial rights and allegations of religious conversions.

The arson attack came amid a wider spike in anti-Christian incidents reported around Christmas. The Christian charity Open Doors reports that as many as 2,900 anti-Christian attacks took place in India between January and November of 2025 overall.

“In states like Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, religious extremists have become increasingly violent, targeting Christians. Churches have been closed, believers attacked, pastors imprisoned on false charges of coercive conversion and Christian families displaced from their homes, simply because of their faith in Christ,” Open Doors partner Priya Sharma said.

On Christmas Day, a mob entered a closed shopping mall in Raipur and vandalised Christmas decorations, including trees and Santa Claus figures.

In Kerala’s Palakkad district, protests erupted after a children’s Christmas carol group was allegedly attacked. Reports stated that the incident triggered public demonstrations and political reactions after the accused was linked to far-right Hindu paramilitaries and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The attack drew widespread condemnation in the state, which has a large Christian population.

While police action was initiated in some cases, Christian leaders and civil society groups said the incidents reflect a broader climate of hostility and inadequate protection for Christians in India.

Image by Paul.

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October 9, 2025
Crime
News

Alleged Palisades Arsonist Is Anti-Trump Climate Alarmist.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Florida man is accused of starting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California, which burned nearly 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and caused $150 billion in damages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Florida resident, is the alleged arsonist. Prosecutors also highlighted his social media activity promoting climate alarmism and attacking conservatives.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fire began on January 7, 2025, in the hills above Los Angeles. Rinderknecht later moved back to Florida, where he remains held without bail.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Senator Kamala Harris Says Meat is Destroying the Planet,” reads the title of one climate-obsessed articles Rinderknecht shared on Facebook.

🎯IMPACT: The fire destroyed over 7,000 homes and businesses, killed 12 people, and displaced countless families, causing significant environmental and economic devastation.

IN FULL

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Florida man, is facing charges after allegedly starting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California. The blaze burned nearly 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed more than 7,000 homes and businesses. While prosecutors argue he deliberately set the fire in January, a growing focus of the case has been Rinderknecht’s online activity, which paints a picture of a man publicly obsessed with climate change and political activism.

On Facebook, Rinderknecht frequently shared content promoting environmental alarmism, veganism, and leftist politics. Among the articles he posted were “Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration” and “Senator Kamala Harris Says Meat is Destroying the Planet.” He often mocked President Donald J. Trump and his supporters, and reposted material from Democrats like Joe Biden.

Rinderknecht also shared links to Harris-Biden fundraising pages and uploaded AI-generated images of burning cities, some eerily similar to scenes from the fire he allegedly set.

Authorities believe the fire smoldered for days after being set before reigniting on January 7, causing an estimated $150 billion in damage. Shortly afterward, Rinderknecht left California and returned to Florida, where he is now being held without bail in Orlando.

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October 8, 2025
Crime

Suspect Nabbed for Devastating Palisades Fires in Los Angeles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An arrest has been made in connection with the devastating Palisades Fires that destroyed homes and claimed lives in Los Angeles, California, earlier this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli, Jonathan Rinderknecht, first responders, and fire victims.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Fires broke out on January 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Details on the arrest were revealed on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.” — Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli

🎯IMPACT: The fires claimed 30 lives, destroyed thousands of homes, and exposed critical failures in California’s emergency responses.

IN FULL

California law enforcement has made an arrest in the case of the Palisades Fires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year, destroying homes and claiming lives. At a press conference on Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for Los Angeles named 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht the suspect, noting that the evidence points to Rinderknecht having intentionally set the fire.

“Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January,” Essayli wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding:  “Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.”

The fires, which erupted on January 7, 2025, killed 12 people in Pacific Palisades and another 18 in Altadena. Over 6,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, including properties owned by high-profile figures such as Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks, and Mandy Moore. The fires burned for days, reducing neighborhoods to ash and rubble.

An outside review released in September pointed to a series of failures in Los Angeles County’s emergency response. The report highlighted outdated policies, inconsistent practices, and communication vulnerabilities that delayed evacuation orders, leaving residents to flee on their own as flames rapidly spread.

The first evacuation order for the Pacific Palisades fire came 40 minutes after some homes were already burning. Severe winds hindered aerial firefighting efforts, while water hydrants ran dry due to unprecedented demand. A nearby reservoir was empty because it was under repair, and fire commanders had not pre-deployed additional resources despite the forecasted conditions.

Despite these challenges, nearly all residents of Pacific Palisades managed to escape, thanks to their awareness of fire risks and the efforts of first responders. The fires were the most destructive in California’s history.

Image by FireEditorHomiee.

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October 6, 2025
News
Religion

Molotov-Wielding Man Detained at D.C. Catholic Cathedral’s ‘Red Mass.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man was arrested outside a Washington, D.C., Catholic cathedral after allegedly carrying a Molotov cocktail and refusing to leave.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Louis Geri, a 41-year-old from Vineland, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Catholics, and law enforcement authorities, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and federal agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early Sunday morning, October 5, during the “Red Mass” at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Its purpose is to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials,” the church wrote about the Red Mass being held at the time.

🎯IMPACT: The incident prompted a police investigation involving multiple agencies, and the cathedral’s front entrance was temporarily closed for safety.

IN FULL

A 41-year-old man from New Jersey, Louis Geri, was arrested early Sunday morning outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., after authorities say he was found with a Molotov cocktail and other suspicious materials. Police said Geri had set up a tent on cathedral property that contained vials of liquid and what appeared to be fireworks. He reportedly refused to leave when approached by law enforcement.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Geri had previously been banned from the cathedral, though officials did not disclose the reason for the restriction. The police secured the area and brought in their Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force to inspect the scene. Geri was charged with unlawful entry, making threats to kidnap or injure, and possession of a Molotov cocktail.

The incident occurred during the Red Mass, an annual tradition held on the Sunday before the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term. The Catholic Church describes the Mass as a service to invoke “God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials.”

Federal and local authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), are investigating the case.

The attempted attack in D.C. reflects a broader surge in violence and vandalism against churches across the United States, particularly Catholic institutions. According to a recent report by the Family Research Council, there were 436 documented incidents targeting American churches in 2024, a sharp increase from 315 the previous year. These attacks, recorded in 43 states, ranged from vandalism and arson to bomb threats and mass shootings. Most notably, a transgender gunman opened fire inside Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in August, killing two children and injuring more than 20 others.

Between 2018 and 2024, the Family Research Council recorded nearly 1,400 acts of hostility against churches nationwide. Catholic sites have been especially affected. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops documented at least 139 incidents targeting Catholic churches between May 2020 and May 2022 alone.

Image by Almonroth.

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August 29, 2025
Crime
Religion

Data Reveals Sharp Rise in Attacks on American Churches.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A sharp rise in hostile incidents targeting American churches was recorded in 2024, with 436 documented cases, up from 315 in 2023 and nearly double the 230 in 2022, according to the Family Research Council.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Churches across 43 states were affected, with incidents ranging from vandalism to arson and gun-related threats. The Family Research Council compiled the data.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred throughout 2024, with California seeing the highest number (40), followed by Pennsylvania (29), with Florida and New York tied at 25 each.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Family Research Council identified 415 hostile incidents in 2024, affecting a total of 383 churches.” – Family Research Council

🎯IMPACT: The data highlights ongoing challenges to places of worship in America, as societal shifts and political disagreements contribute to rising hostility.

IN FULL

In 2024, attacks on churches across the United States surged to unprecedented levels, with 436 incidents reported, marking a steep rise from 315 in 2023 and close to doubling the 230 recorded in 2022. The numbers, compiled by the Family Research Council (FRC), highlight a troubling pattern of growing hostility toward Christian places of worship.

These incidents spanned 43 states and included a wide range of offenses. Vandalism topped the list with 284 documented cases, including property damage, defacement, burglary, and ransacking. Arson followed with 55 instances, some confirmed and others under investigation. Gun-related incidents more than doubled from the previous year, rising to 28 from just 12 in 2023. There were also 14 bomb threats, mostly hoaxes, and 47 other violent acts, including assaults during church break-ins.

California reported the most attacks with 40, followed by Pennsylvania with 29. Florida and New York each recorded 25 incidents. The Family Research Council, which tracks these incidents, has itself been controversially labeled an anti-LGBT “hate group” by the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center.

While statistics for 2025 are not yet available, Catholic children were targeted in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week in a mass shooting perpetrated by a transgender gunman who decorated his weapons with Satanic pentagrams.

The growing hostility to Christians is not limited to the United States. Europe has seen a disturbing wave of similar attacks. In just three weeks during the late summer of 2024, nine churches across Germany, France, and the Netherlands were struck by arson attacks. Across France, nearly 1,000 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded in 2023 alone, with that number rising further into 2024.

Germany reported a 105 percent increase in politically motivated crimes against Christians, while violent attacks and vandalism targeting churches have also become common in countries like Spain and Belgium.

Image by Farragutful.

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July 8, 2025
News
War

Russia-Linked Arsonists Convicted of Burning Down Ukraine Aid Warehouse.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Three men have been found guilty of an arson attack on a warehouse in London, England, in connection with the Ukraine war, causing approximately £1 million (~$1.36m) in damage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nii Mensah, Jakeem Rose, and Ugnius Asmena were convicted. Ringleaders Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves admitted to aggravated arson and were linked to Russia’s Wagner Group.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on March 20, 2023, at an industrial unit in Leyton, London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This case is a clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using ‘proxies’ to carry out very serious criminal activity.” – Commander Dominic Murphy

🎯IMPACT: The case marks the first convictions under the National Security Act 2023 for saboteurs acting on behalf of the Wagner Group.

IN FULL

Three men have been convicted of setting fire to a warehouse in London, England, which was linked to Ukraine aid efforts. The arson attack, carried out on March 20, 2023, caused the equivalent of over a million dollars in damages. England’s High Court heard that the attack was orchestrated on behalf of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company (PMC).

Nii Mensah and Jakeem Rose set fire to the building while Ugnius Asmena waited in a car. Dylan Earl planned the attack with assistance from Jake Reeves, who targeted the warehouse due to its role in supplying Starlink equipment and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Both Earl and Reeves admitted to aggravated arson and charges.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the London Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, stated: “The warehouse arson put members of the public at great risk, and it was only by good fortune nobody was seriously injured or worse.” He added that the case demonstrates how foreign entities, such as the Wagner Group, use local proxies to carry out acts of sabotage.

Evidence presented during the trial included phone data, CCTV footage, and videos of the fire. Mensah and Rose were recorded climbing over a wall to approach the warehouse and later fled the scene. Messages between the perpetrators revealed their awareness of the damage caused, with Mensah texting Earl: “Bro lol it’s on the news … we dun damages [sic].”

The court also heard of additional plots by Earl and Reeves to target businesses and individuals critical of the Russian government, including the high-profile Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. The defendants will be sentenced later this year.

Earlier this year, a Wagner Group mercenary was arrested crossing illegally into the United States from Mexico. He was found with a drone, two passports, and around $4,000.

Russia is suspected of being linked to other possible acts of sabotage in Western countries, including exploding packages on cargo planes.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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May 16, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
UK

Ukrainian Migrant Charged With Setting Fire to Properties Owned by British PM.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A Ukrainian man has been charged with arson and attacking properties owned or linked to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

👥 Who’s Involved: Roman Lavrynovych, Sir Keir Starmer, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

📍 Where & When: The attacks occurred between May 8 and May 12; Lavrynovych was charged on May 15.

💬 Key Quote: “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London,” confirmed Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) counter terrorism division.

⚠️ Impact: The arrest raises questions on the motive regarding the attacks and what the suspect’s Ukrainian background may have to do with them.

IN FULL:

A Ukrainian migrant has been charged after trying to set several properties on fire that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer owns or has links to. One fire occurred on May 12 in Kent at the house the Prime Minister lived in before moving into Number 10 Downing Street last year.

Roman Lavrynovych, a 21-year-old Ukrainian national, was arrested and has been charged with three counts of arson for fires at Sir Keir’s home, another property linked to the Prime Minister, and a vehicle that is also connected to him. All of the attacks took place from May 8 to May 12. One person had to be helped out of one of the properties by firefighters.

Lavrynovych was arrested on May 13 at his home in south-east London and was charged on May 15. “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London,” Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service counter terrorism division, said.

So far, no motive has been put forward by police regarding the attacks, which appear to have clearly targeted the Labour Party leader.

The attack is just the latest serious criminal act by a Ukrainian in recent months in Western Europe. In late March, a Ukrainian man stabbed five people in Amsterdam. Prosecutors later floated the idea that his motive could have been terrorism.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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PULSE POINTS:

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