Manchester ‘petrol bomb’ suspect ‘set themselves on fire’ after family home targeted

The occupants were forced to flee

A suspect in the ‘petrol bomb’ incident in Greater Manchester reportedly ‘set themselves on fire’ after a family home was targeted.

Earlier today, police swarmed a property in the Redvales area of Bury after reports a home was “deliberately” set alight while it was occupied just before 2am on Sunday.

Images from the scene show a cordon has remained surrounding the end terraced property on South Terrace for most of the day, with its windows boarded up and apparent smoke damage from the blaze, reports Manchester Evening News.

It is believed the “petrol bomb” was thrown into the property through a ground-floor window and into the dining room, spreading an inferno through to the kitchen.

While a probe into the exact cause and reason for the apparent attack is ongoing, the MEN reports one alleged suspect is believed to have set themselves on fire during the incident.

It’s thought their coat caught fire before fleeing the scene.

Speaking to the MEN tosay, homeowner Claire said her husband woke her up in the early hours after hearing a ‘loud noise’. Moments later he told her: “The house is on fire.” She said a petrol can was found beside the window on the ground.

“We were in bed at around quarter to two and that’s when my husband woke up to a loud noise. He jumped out of bed, I was asleep and confused at the time, and then I heard something myself,” she said.

“He ran out of the room and said ‘the house is on fire’. We jumped out of bed and got the dog out of the kitchen and ran straight outside. The dining room was on fire, which is where it had started.”

Claire continued: “Everyone started coming out on the street and the whole house was smoking. Our neighbour’s said their Ring doorbell had caught two people running away from the house. We knew then that someone had done it to us.

“It started in the dining room and has melted parts of the kitchen. It hasn’t spread through the house but everywhere is smoke damaged, it’s black throughout. We have been told to prepare ourselves that nothing is salvageable.

“My children were out of the house thank god. But it’s just absolutely devastating. The fact we have lost everything. We are a hard working family. The thing that is the most upsetting is my kids have lost everything and we can’t replace it all. To think someone has done this, I believe they tried to kill me and my kids.

“If someone hadn’t have been there with me we could’ve died. We are lucky to have gotten out but its scary to thing someone would do something so extreme. It’s concerning and confusing. We have to start again but right now just want to be safe with our family.”

Local councillor Tamoor Tariq also revealed in a statement that the family living at the property fortunately manaed to escape without any injuries, but have been left “shaken” by the attack.

“This was an appalling and extremely dangerous act. I can confirm that, thankfully, everyone living in the property is safe, as are the neighbouring family. However, the impact has been devastating. The damage to the home is extensive and the family have lost everything, personal belongings, clothing, electrical items, and irreplaceable memories,” he shared in a post on social media.

“I have spoken directly with the family affected and their immediate neighbours this morning. They are understandably shaken by what they’ve experienced, but are being supported.

“Residents will have noticed a significant police presence in the area. This will remain the case for a number of days. A full investigation is under way and this incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Let me be absolutely clear: this was an act that could easily have resulted in loss of life. Those responsible must, and should, face the full force of the law.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 1:45am this morning (Sunday, 18th January), firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a domestic property on South Terrace, Bury.

“Three fire engines from Heywood, Whitefield and Farnworth fire stations quickly arrived at the scene, where a kitchen in an end-terraced house was alright. Firefighters used breathing apparatus, hose reels, a thermal imaging camera and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.