Security measures are stepped up at David Cameron’s London house after ex-PM ‘was targeted in suspected Molotov cocktail attack’ that destroyed cottage near his countryside home
- ‘Molotov cocktail’ said to have been hurled at property near ex-PM’s home
- Man, 33, arrested on suspicion of arson and detained under Mental Health Act
- Police officers have been deployed outside Mr Cameron’s London home
Police officers have been deployed outside the former Prime Minister, David Cameron’s London home, following a suspected arson attack on a house near a cottage owned by the ex-PM.
A Molotov cocktail is said to have been hurled through the window of one his neighbours’ homes in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton, close to Mr Cameron’s former constituency.
One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed ‘targeted attack’ on the cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron, 19 years ago.
Police parked up outside Mr Cameron’s London home following a suspected arson attack on a house near a cottage owned by the ex-PM
A Molotov cocktail was said to have been hurled through the window of a property (pictured above) near the ex-Tory leader’s home in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton
Security measures at David Cameron’s London Home have been stepped up as police take position outside the Ex Prime Ministers home where he resides with his family
He added: ‘If it was, whoever did it wasn’t very clever as they got the wrong house.’ The source added that he had seen an armed response unit on the scene in the aftermath of the fire.
Fire crews remained at the scene yesterday as two men tried to retrieve items from the wreckage.
A man, 33, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was arrested on suspicion of arson and detained under the Mental Health Act, the Sun reported.
The suspect had reportedly travelled almost 60 miles to the scene.
One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed ‘targeted attack’ on a cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron in the area 19 years ago
Mr Cameron told the newspaper: ‘It’s terrible. They’ve had a fire engine here for the last couple of days. I’ve heard a man has been arrested but I can’t say anything.
‘I was not home on Monday night when it happened, I came down as soon as I heard. There was a woman who lived there but she moved out about a year ago, a lovely old lady.
The former premier is entitled to lifelong personal protection from specialist Met Police officers (Police are parked near to David Cameron’s London home pictured above)
‘Thankfully, the homeowner is living with relatives but she is very shaken up. It is a huge relief that it was empty and no one was hurt.’
The former premier is entitled to lifelong personal protection from specialist Met Police officers.
Former Scotland Yard commander John O’Connor told The Sun that the suspected attack ‘reinforces the need for the life-long protection of prime ministers’.
Another local resident claimed he had been told Molotov cocktails had been used, adding: ‘The word is that they were targeting the Camerons’ home, but we’ll have to wait for the police and fire service to finish their investigation.’
Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron (pictured with his wife) said of Monday’s incident: ‘There was a bad fire at one of David Cameron’s neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt’
Windows at the address had been boarded up yesterday while part of the roof appeared to have collapsed. The former Prime Minister is said to have been seen in the hamlet looking at the damage.
Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron said of Monday’s incident: ‘There was a bad fire at one of David Cameron’s neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt.
They added: ‘This is now being investigated by the police, so it would be inappropriate to comment further’.