Shocking moment car explodes into fireball near Keir Starmer's house in 'arson attack'

This is the shock moment a 4x4 burst into flames outside a £2m home owned by Prime Minister in an explosion now being investigated by Britain's counter-terrorism police. A doorbell camera captured the moment a dark blue Toyota Rav 4 was engulfed in flames as firefighters fought the blaze on VE Day last Thursday. The owner of the vehicle, a neighbour of the Prime Minister, is understood to have thought that the fire started because of a faulty battery. The hybrid car was completely destroyed.

But after two suspected firebomb attacks on properties in North London linked to the Prime Minister on Sunday and Monday, Scotland Yard's SO15 counter terrorism command have stepped in. The video emerged hours after a 21-year-old suspect was arrested in the early hours of this morning on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He remains in custody. The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed where the arson suspect was arrested.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named but witnessed the car fire, said: "Initially the police did not think it was a criminal case. It was a hybrid car so they just assumed it was some sort of electrical fault that sparked it.

"It was in the middle of the night, it woke us up, it was scary."

Another neighbour told : "I heard people screaming 'fire, fire!' I looked out and you could see it lighting up the street."

Great grandmother Linda, 80, who lives on the street, told : "At 3am on Thursday morning I woke up to the sound of people - delivery men apparently - screaming "fire, fire" and the sky outside was lit up.

"And I thought OMG what's going on. And I looked out and saw the fire.

"I saw the car on the road was on fire. I've never seen anything like it. It was so bright. Blazing.

"I saw two fire trucks arrive and it took them a long time to control the blaze.

"The tree and the front wheel of a neighbours' bike was scorched as well.

"The car belongs to our next door neighbours but they're not the people who [live in] Starmer's house".

A witness to the car fire added: "There were bangs and the a huge fire. My bike was parked next to the car it's tyre was split by the heat. It was very shocking."

Another said: "It was crazy there were proper big flames you could feel the heat coming off."

The 21-year-old was held after the doors of two homes linked to the Prime Minister in north London both suffered fire damage within 24 hours of each other, one in the early hours of yesterday and another in the early hours of Sunday.

There was also a vehicle fire on the same street as the latest door attack, last Thursday, that is being connected to the Prime Minister in a potential arson spree targeting Sir Keir.

is probing whether the blazes are linked and said today that the arrest relates to the three incidents.

Counter terror cops have taken over the investigation into the latest blaze at the premier's £2million townhouse yesterday morning where neighbours had heard a "loud bang".

Officers were searching gardens nearby for a projectile with one neighbour claiming it may have been a firebomb attack.

Mr Starmer, his wife Victoria and their children moved into an apartment in 10 Downing Street after the election last July.

Investigators believe that the fire at the previous home may have been started deliberately in the middle of the night.

It is currently being treated as "suspicious".

The PM today thanked the emergency services with his spokesperson saying they were unable to comment further.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "The 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 May on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

"He remains in custody. The arrest relates to three incidents.

"On Monday, May 12, at 1.35am, police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in NW5.

"Officers attended the scene. Damage was caused to the property's entrance, nobody was hurt.

"As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire. Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it.

"The investigation team are also considering two other incidents - a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, May 8 and a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, May 11 - and are investigating whether they may be linked to the fire in NW5 on May 12.

"All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing".