A 65-year-old man has admitted throwing a petrol bomb at a hotel housing migrants in Islington, north London, in an attack captured on CCTV.
Mark Neville was filmed igniting the device before throwing it over a gate towards the entrance of the building. The blaze broke out in the hotel grounds but was swiftly put out by security personnel, and nobody was hurt. The incident took place at 10:53pm on September 24 last year.
How Police Tracked Down the Suspect
Detectives used CCTV footage to trace Neville's movements from the scene to the front door of his flat. Local residents helped identify him, and forensic evidence further linked him to the attack.
A specialist fire investigation dog named Simba, a nine-year-old springer spaniel, assisted officers in finding a glove containing Neville's DNA in a nearby bin. His DNA was also matched to glass fragments recovered from the petrol bomb.
Evidence of Motive
Police searches of Neville's flat uncovered internet searches and messages connected to far-right activists, migration and asylum seekers. The Metropolitan Police stated that the evidence suggested he was driven by hatred and anger towards immigration.
Neville, of Islington, was arrested less than two days after the attack. He initially denied involvement but later admitted he was the individual in the footage.
Court Appearance and Aftermath
He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday to attempted arson being reckless as to endanger life, possession of a bladed article, and possession of a prohibited weapon, a stun gun, in a private place.
The Dingley Road hotel has since ceased operating as accommodation for migrants. Neville will be sentenced at a later date.
