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Man admits store arson killings Man admits store arson killings
(about 1 hour later)
A 33-year-old man has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to murdering two people in an arson attack on a store.A 33-year-old man has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to murdering two people in an arson attack on a store.
Robert Torto, from Stockwell, south London, set fire to the Pricecutter Food and Wine shop in April 2006.Robert Torto, from Stockwell, south London, set fire to the Pricecutter Food and Wine shop in April 2006.
Khizer Hayat, 40, died inside the Kennington store and his colleague, Hamidullah Hamidi, died six days later. Two staff escaped with minor injuries. Khizer Hayat died inside the Kennington store and his colleague, Hamidullah Hamidi died six days later. Two staff escaped with minor injuries.
Torto, who was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, was ordered to be held indefinitely in a secure hospital.Torto, who was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, was ordered to be held indefinitely in a secure hospital.
He believed that it was his duty to kill all sinners, including those of other religions, the Old Bailey heard. He also admitted one count of arson, but two further charges of arson relating to earlier attacks on a newsagents and an off-licence, both in south London, was allowed to lie on file.
He also faces arson charges over two earlier attacks on a newsagents and an off-licence, both in south London. 'Delusional beliefs'
Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, said the "terrible acts" brought "terror to the streets".
Edward Brown, prosecuting, said the attacks were religiously motivated.
"The only possible explanation is that in his deluded state he was putting into action his belief that those of other religions should be killed."
Two men died as a result of the fire
The court heard Torto was sent to a psychiatric hospital in 2001 but was released just two months later.
CCTV footage caught a man, identified later as Torto, setting a bottle filled with petrol on fire and throwing it into the shop, which resulted in the deaths of Mr Hayat, 37, and Mr Hamidi, 31.
The victims were trapped in a storeroom.
The first arson attack occurred on 14 April last year when a newsagents at Tulse Hill in south London was targeted. One customer suffered serious burns on both legs in that incident.
The second attack, which resulted in the fatalities, took place on 27 April, the court heard.
Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, said: "They were terrible acts.
"They amount to repeated firebomb attacks using petrol as an accelerant targeting premises and people within them, which you selected as a result of your delusional beliefs."