Russia denies involvement in arson at properties linked to UK Prime Minister Starmer

LONDON : A apical Kremlin authoritative connected Monday scoffed astatine a study that Russia could beryllium progressive successful caller arson attacks connected the backstage location of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a gathering wherever helium erstwhile lived and a car that helium had owned. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was responding to a Financial Times study that said UK information officials were looking into whether Russia was progressive successful the attacks. The Associated Press has not been capable to independently corroborate the FT study that relied connected unnamed elder UK authorities figures. But Peskov, who the London-based insubstantial said did not respond to a petition erstwhile it published the communicative Friday, was asked astir the study astatine his regular property briefing Monday. "London tends to fishy Russia of thing atrocious that happens successful the UK," Peskov said. "As a rule, each these suspicions are groundless, unsubstantiated and often laughable." No 1 was injured successful the fires that occurred connected 3 nights betwixt May 8 and May 12 successful northbound London, authorities said. Three men with ties to Ukraine look arson charges and are being held without bail earlier a proceeding June 6 successful London's Central Criminal Court.

A authoritative said determination was nary mentation for the crimes and nary authoritative has publically said Moscow is down the fires. But the arsons acceptable a signifier of disruption that Western officials person accused Russia and its proxies of carrying retired dozens of times to undermine enactment for Ukraine since Moscow's full-scale penetration 3 years agone and to sow part successful Europe. The Associated Press successful March documented astir 60 incidents successful which European governments, prosecutors, quality services oregon different Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia oregon its state Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings oregon committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage oregon espionage since the 2022 invasion. Richard Moore, the caput of Britain's overseas quality service, accused Russia past twelvemonth of a "staggeringly reckless" sabotage run against Ukraine's Western allies. Two weeks ago, six Bulgarians were sentenced successful a London tribunal to lengthy situation presumption for carrying retired a sophistic...