Two people have been charged after a suspected arson attack at London MP Mike Freer's constituency office.
Homeless Paul Harwood, 42, and Zara Kasory, 32, were arrested on Wednesday, January 3 and have been charged with arson with intent after a fire broke out at the building in Barnet.
The pair were also charged in relation to a blaze at a restaurant in Long Lane, Finchley at around 11pm on the same night. The North Finchley and Golders Green MP’s constituency office was allegedly attacked at about 7pm on Christmas Eve and a shed at the back of the property in Ballards Lane burnt down.
Nobody was in the building at the time.
Following the incident Mr Freer said he feared for his life while working as an MP and raised the possibility of the blaze being started deliberately because of his pro-Israel stance.
Detectives said on Thursday that it was not being treated as a hate crime.
The Finchley building is the former constituency office of ex-Tory leader Margaret Thatcher.
Baroness Thatcher’s political career began when she was elected as MP for Finchley in 1959 and she served the constituency throughout her time as Prime Minister, stepping down two years after leaving Downing Street.
Mr Freer, who has represented the seat since 2010, serves as parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal services in the Ministry of Justice.
Harwood and Kasory are due to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on January 4.
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD4971/24Dec. Information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
