An investigation into an attempted firebombing at Nigel Farage's home has been reopened after a suspect was reportedly found on CCTV footage that police had previously failed to identify.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now examining whether the Metropolitan Police missed an opportunity to protect the public after the footage was reviewed again by counter-terrorism officers.
Incident at Greater London home
The incident happened on April 20, 2025, when Mr Farage's partner, Laure Ferrari, returned to their Greater London home and discovered damage to the front door. An empty can of lighter fuel was found nearby, with its contents reportedly splashed across the front door.
Mr Farage later described the incident as an "outright arson attempt", saying a lit incendiary device had been placed into the letterbox. He was not at home at the time and said the fire appeared to have burned itself out in the porch.
"Luckily it had burned itself out in the porch, and we think maybe the perpetrators were disturbed in the act," he told The Telegraph. "The police were all over it," he added.
CCTV footage under scrutiny
Police took 74 hours of CCTV footage from security cameras around the property and interviewed Mr Farage and Ms Ferrari as part of the original investigation. However, the Reform UK leader was later told that the security cameras had not captured the suspect.
A further examination of the footage by counter-terrorism police reportedly found that the suspect and their car had actually been captured over an "extended period". The discovery came after the investigation was reopened during the wider inquiry following the death of Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home earlier this year. There is no suggestion that the two incidents were connected.
Police watchdog investigation
The officer who originally reviewed the CCTV footage has now been placed under investigation by the police watchdog. The IOPC is examining whether the officer could be found guilty of discreditable conduct and whether the CCTV tasking was carried out to the required standard.
It is also alleged that officers "may not have undertaken the CCTV tasking to the standard required, leading to a missed opportunity to protect the public". Counter Terrorism Policing London has acknowledged that a line of inquiry was not identified or pursued during the original investigation.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said the Metropolitan Police had initially received a report of an attempted burglary at an address in Greater London in April 2025. "Inquiries were carried out by the Metropolitan Police, supported by Counter Terrorism Policing London," she said. "No arrests were made, and the investigation was subsequently closed, pending any new lines of inquiry."
She added that, following the reopening of the investigation, counter-terrorism officers had identified "a line of inquiry which was not identified and pursued by them at the time, which may have been relevant". "As a result, to ensure their support to the initial investigation is thoroughly reviewed, Counter Terrorism Policing London made a mandatory conduct referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct," Ms Evans said. "We will engage fully and comprehensively with the IOPC on this matter."
The victims and families involved in the investigations have been updated, according to police. No one has been charged over the attempted attack on Mr Farage's property.
The Reform leader has previously spoken about the security risks he faces as a politician, saying there are "huge dangers in this job" and calling for increased protection for MPs. He also revealed that he had received a substantial private donation to help fund his security arrangements after returning to frontline politics.
The IOPC investigation will now examine how the CCTV evidence was originally handled and whether any failures meant police missed an opportunity to identify the person responsible.
