Two people have been charged with arson after a fire was started in the shed at the constituency office of a Tory MP on Christmas Eve.
Paul Harwood, 42, and Zara Kasory, 32, both of no fixed address, have been charged with arson with intent following the blaze at the office of Mike Freer – the MP for North Finchely and Golders Green – on Long Lane, north London.
The pair were further charged with one count of arson without intent in relation to a fire at the rear of a restaurant also on Long Lane at around 11pm on the same night.
Both were due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.
(Susannah Ireland)
Police were called at 7:06 pm on Sunday, 24 December by the London Fire Brigade following a blaze at the office on Ballards Lane, N3.
The fire was put out and an investigation was carried out by detectives from the North West Command Unit CID.
Police said they were aware of widespread reporting and concern in the community and can confirm the incident involving Mr Freer’s office was not being treated as a hate crime.
Although not Jewish himself, Mr Freer, who is gay, represents a constituency that has a large Jewish community and he is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel group.
Mr Freer has been informed of the charges.
Speaking after the fire, the London MP said he feared for his safety and wears a stab vest.
He said the use of vests by his him and his parliamentary colleagues was “sadly par for the course these days”.
“I, personally, like some of my other colleagues, wear stab vests if I do public events,” Mr Freer told Sky News.
Anyone with information that could assist police is being asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD4971/24Dec.
Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.