A man has been convicted of petrol-bombing a migrant hotel in north London. Mark Neville, 65, threw a petrol bomb over the gate of a hotel on Dingley Road in Islington at around 10.53pm on September 24, 2025.
CCTV footage shows Neville, dressed in all black and masked, lighting the petrol bomb in a nearby doorway before walking to the hotel and throwing it over the gate. A large flash is visible from the entrance as the projectile sets alight, while Neville walks away. He is later captured on CCTV discarding a pair of gloves he used in the attack.
Investigation and arrest
Security guards at the hotel quickly extinguished the fire, and nobody was injured. An investigation was launched by the Met Police, with officers using CCTV to track Neville from the scene to the door of his flat. Hundreds of hours of footage were reviewed to secure a clear photo of the suspect.
Neville was identified with the help of the local community and a forensic fire dog named Simba, who found a glove with his DNA close to the hotel. Glass fragments from the petrol bomb were also linked to his DNA. He was arrested two days later and charged with arson with intent to endanger life, criminal damage, and other offences.
Motivation and conviction
Searches of Neville's flat found internet searches on far-right activism and asylum seekers. In a police interview, Neville said his friends often sent him articles about immigration and that he had attended marches on the issue, including one outside the hotel he targeted. He initially denied involvement, claiming he had been visiting a friend with dementia, but admitted he was the person in the footage after being presented with additional evidence.
Neville pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 28. He was convicted of attempted arson being reckless as to endanger life, possession of a bladed article, and possession of a prohibited weapon (stun gun) in a private place. The hotel in Islington is no longer being used to house migrants.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley, whose team led the investigation, said: “Neville fire-bombed a hotel in an attack that was designed to terrify residents and the local community. His actions could easily have caused horrific injuries. Officers immediately moved to identify him, track him down and arrest him, examining hundreds of hours of CCTV and gathering crucial evidence. After he was arrested he tried to deny his guilt, as officers uncovered overwhelming proof that he was motivated by hate. We remain resolute in our determination to protect Londoners and relentlessly pursue those who seek to cause fear and harm, bringing serious offenders to justice.”
