Chilling CCTV footage has captured the moment the home of an imam and his family appeared to be “firebombed” in an attack. The terrifying incident unfolded at a property in Eastgrove Avenue, Sharples, Bolton, shortly after 9pm on Wednesday.
Footage obtained by the MEN appears to show a man dressed in dark clothing and wearing a helmet running onto the driveway before a blaze erupts outside the house. Hassan Patel, 42, who lives at the property with his wife, four young children and his nephew, was not at home when the attack happened. His family escaped unhurt, but he said the ordeal had left them deeply shaken.Mr Patel, principal for Islamic Education at Taiyabah Masjid on Blackburn Road and an imam at Masjid e Aish on Seymour Road, said police were investigating the incident. He said: “I am shaken by it all really, and the children are shaken. It is a quiet community. We have not had any issues before.”
“Everybody is concerned. They are asking why this has happened. The police are investigating. We want to thank everybody who has sent messages. We really appreciate the community coming together.”
Mr Patel’s 19-year-old son, Umair Yusuf, said his mother, siblings and cousin were inside the house when the attack unfolded, however no one was injured.
He said: “My mother, two brothers and sister, and my cousin, were in the house. The neighbours reported that there were two individuals dressed all in black driving up and down the street on a motorbike. One of my brothers was outside at the time.
“He saw they saw him and looked at him. We feel that it was racially motivated. We feel that it was targeted to this house. One person stays on the motorbike and the other intentionally walks up and calmly did what he did. He knew exactly what he was doing.
“My younger brother heard a noise and the smashing of windows. He quickly got a hosepipe and brought it outside. He was screaming. He put the fire out from the outside as my brother, cousin and mother put the fire out with buckets of water.
“The immediate threat of the house being burnt down was put out before the fire service came.”
Umair said neighbours rushed to help the family after the attack.
He added: “We are all traumatised and so are the local community. The police have said they are investigating at the moment. My father is very well respected by a lot of people in the community. There were a lot of people here in solidarity with us.
“The community is vey close. It is like one big family and they showed us that yesterday when we were all standing together.
“It could have been a whole lot worse. If it had happened at night and we were all sleeping, who knows what might have happened.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just after 9.15pm on Wednesday 10 June, fire crews from Bolton North and Farnworth attended a house fire on Eastgrove Avenue, Bolton.
“Crews arrived quickly and worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe. No casualties were reported. Firefighters departed after approximately an hour and a half.”
Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.
