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Man seriously ill after being hit by lit petrol bomb | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man is seriously ill in hospital after being set on fire by a petrol bomb in Londonderry. | |
Two youths smashed a window of a house at Benvarden Avenue, in the Waterside, at about 23:10 BST on Friday and threw the lit bomb inside. | |
It struck the 45-year-old man as he sat in the living room and he suffered burns to almost 40% of his body. He was rescued by two neighbours. | |
The police are treating the attack as attempted murder. | |
The man is described as seriously ill but stable in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and he has undergone at least two operations. | |
Inspector John Burrows praised the rescuers but described the attackers as "cowards". | |
"This was a very sinister, deliberate attack," he said. "This was an attempt to cause serious injury or death. | |
"Two members of the public, good neighbours, risked their lives to go into a house that was on fire. | |
"There's no doubt their actions saved his life and what a contrast between those two individuals and the two criminals who tried to kill this man." | "There's no doubt their actions saved his life and what a contrast between those two individuals and the two criminals who tried to kill this man." |
He said the victim was a "gentle individual" who had done "nothing to deserve this". | |
Inspector Burrows urged anyone with information about the attackers, or who knew of a motive for the attack, to contact police. | |
"We need the names of these people," he said. | |
"It is extremely fortunate that we are not looking at a fatality. But this man will live with serious injuries for the rest of this life." | |
'Lethal weapons' | 'Lethal weapons' |
SDLP councillor Gerry Diver went to the scene shortly after the attack. | |
"Benvarden Avenue is a row of terrace houses, this incident could have been much more serious as a fire in one property could have easily spread to the adjacent properties on the street," he said. | |
"Petrol bombs are lethal weapons. If it hadn't been for the swift actions of this gentleman's neighbours, we could have been dealing with a tragedy," Mr Diver added. | "Petrol bombs are lethal weapons. If it hadn't been for the swift actions of this gentleman's neighbours, we could have been dealing with a tragedy," Mr Diver added. |
Police said the two attackers, who were male, wore grey hooded tops and had scarves over their faces. | Police said the two attackers, who were male, wore grey hooded tops and had scarves over their faces. |
It is believed that they made off in the direction of Dervock Place. | It is believed that they made off in the direction of Dervock Place. |
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police at Strand Road on 0845 600 8000 or use the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111. | Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police at Strand Road on 0845 600 8000 or use the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111. |