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| Counter terror police help investigation as man set alight near Birmingham mosque | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ch Supt Richard North said they are "using all resources available to us" to investigate the attack | Ch Supt Richard North said they are "using all resources available to us" to investigate the attack |
| Counter-terror police are involved in an investigation into a man being set alight as he walked home from a mosque. | Counter-terror police are involved in an investigation into a man being set alight as he walked home from a mosque. |
| A man has been held on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Monday. | A man has been held on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Monday. |
| The West Midlands and Metropolitan forces are looking into whether there is a link to a similar attack in Ealing, west London last month. | The West Midlands and Metropolitan forces are looking into whether there is a link to a similar attack in Ealing, west London last month. |
| The Birmingham victim, in his 70s, was approached, sprayed with a substance and had his jacket set on fire. | The Birmingham victim, in his 70s, was approached, sprayed with a substance and had his jacket set on fire. |
| Neighbours told the BBC they helped to put the flames out and carry the victim to his home where he was treated by paramedics. | Neighbours told the BBC they helped to put the flames out and carry the victim to his home where he was treated by paramedics. |
| His son said his father was "very badly burned" and they were praying for his recovery. | His son said his father was "very badly burned" and they were praying for his recovery. |
| He was taken to hospital with burns to his face which are serious but not thought to be life-threatening. Police said he remained in a stable condition. | He was taken to hospital with burns to his face which are serious but not thought to be life-threatening. Police said he remained in a stable condition. |
| 'Praying he's OK' | |
| Tayyab Riaz, the victim's nephew, said everyone was "very upset" at the "shocking news". | |
| "For 35 years he's been going to that mosque to pray and there's never been a problem," he said. | |
| "Suddenly this happens. His hair, beard and eyebrows are badly burnt. We're praying he's OK." | |
| A video of an attack shared on social media which shows a man being set alight is under investigation by police. | A video of an attack shared on social media which shows a man being set alight is under investigation by police. |
| Downing Street described the incident as a "concerning case". | Downing Street described the incident as a "concerning case". |
| The suspect was arrested in Dudley Road, the street where the Birmingham mosque is, on Tuesday after being identified by officers carrying out inquiries. The attack happened just after 19:00 GMT in nearby Shenstone Road. | The suspect was arrested in Dudley Road, the street where the Birmingham mosque is, on Tuesday after being identified by officers carrying out inquiries. The attack happened just after 19:00 GMT in nearby Shenstone Road. |
| In Ealing, an 82-year-old man was set on fire as he left the West London Islamic Centre on Singapore Road, at about 20:00 on 27 February. | In Ealing, an 82-year-old man was set on fire as he left the West London Islamic Centre on Singapore Road, at about 20:00 on 27 February. |
| Extra police patrols are taking place in the area to reassure the community | Extra police patrols are taking place in the area to reassure the community |
| Ch Supt Richard North, commander at Birmingham police, said: "We are aware of the incident that happened in London. | Ch Supt Richard North, commander at Birmingham police, said: "We are aware of the incident that happened in London. |
| "We are actively working with the Metropolitan Police to see if those two incidents are connected. That's a major part of our inquiry. | "We are actively working with the Metropolitan Police to see if those two incidents are connected. That's a major part of our inquiry. |
| "I have had meetings today with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and they are engaged in the inquiry. We are working very much closely together." | "I have had meetings today with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and they are engaged in the inquiry. We are working very much closely together." |
| He said officers had been "working through the night to establish what happened and who is responsible". | He said officers had been "working through the night to establish what happened and who is responsible". |
| "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and are using all resources available to us," he said. | "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and are using all resources available to us," he said. |
| "We are keeping an open mind to the motive of the attacker and we won't speculate further at this stage." | "We are keeping an open mind to the motive of the attacker and we won't speculate further at this stage." |
| Scorch marks | Scorch marks |
| He added: "Our investigation continues with support from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands who have access to specialist capabilities to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident." | He added: "Our investigation continues with support from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands who have access to specialist capabilities to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident." |
| Officers are aware of a video posted on social media "showing a man being set alight, and we're examining it as part of our investigations", the force said. | Officers are aware of a video posted on social media "showing a man being set alight, and we're examining it as part of our investigations", the force said. |
| Scorch marks are on the pavement in Edgbaston where the attack happened | Scorch marks are on the pavement in Edgbaston where the attack happened |
| Residents said a lot of doorbell footage in the area had been handed in to police. | Residents said a lot of doorbell footage in the area had been handed in to police. |
| Extra officers will be in the area to speak to the community and provide reassurance. | Extra officers will be in the area to speak to the community and provide reassurance. |
| In a joint statement, the city council's leader Ian Ward, cabinet member for community safety John Cotton and ward councillors Sharon Thompson and Marcus Bernasconi called it a "horrific attack". | In a joint statement, the city council's leader Ian Ward, cabinet member for community safety John Cotton and ward councillors Sharon Thompson and Marcus Bernasconi called it a "horrific attack". |
| They also said they would be talking with community groups and local mosques "to offer support to the wider community". | They also said they would be talking with community groups and local mosques "to offer support to the wider community". |
| "We would urge the community to work with the police and to avoid any speculation at this stage," they added. | "We would urge the community to work with the police and to avoid any speculation at this stage," they added. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Birmingham | Birmingham |
| London | London |
| Ealing | Ealing |
| Edgbaston | Edgbaston |