Disturbing CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment an imam's family home was allegedly targeted in a firebomb attack in Bolton. The incident occurred on Eastgrove Avenue in the Sharples area on Wednesday evening. The footage shows a male, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a helmet, running onto the property's driveway moments before the fire breaks out.
Imam's Family Traumatized
Hassan Patel, 42, lives at the address with his wife, four young children and his nephew. He was not at home at the time but spoke of his shock in the aftermath. Mr Patel serves as the principal for Islamic Education at the Taiyabah Masjid mosque on Blackburn Road and as an imam at Masjid e Aish on Seymour Road. He confirmed that police are now investigating the incident.
Mr Patel said: "I am shaken by it all really, and the children are shaken. It is a quiet community. We have not had any issues before. Everybody is concerned. They are asking why this has happened. The police are investigating. We want to thank everybody who has sent messages. We really appreciate the community coming together."
Details of the Attack
Nobody was injured in the blaze, which took place shortly after 9pm. The footage appears to show the male carrying a bag in one hand and another object in the other, from which he pours liquid. The object then ignites on the driveway before the male hurls the burning item towards the front of the house. He hurls an object to shatter a window at the front of the property. Further liquid is then thrown onto the flames, which rapidly engulf the front of the home. The footage then shows the male grabbing the backpack before fleeing the driveway.
Mr Patel's son, Umair Yusuf, 19, described how the fire was swiftly extinguished after one of his younger brothers doused the flames using buckets of water, with a hosepipe also deployed. Umair said: "My mother, two brothers and sister, and my cousin, were in the house. The neighbours reported that there were two individuals dressed all in black driving up and down the street on a motorbike. One of my brothers was outside at the time. He saw they saw him and looked at him. We feel that it was racially motivated. We feel that it was targeted to this house. One person stays on the motorbike and the other intentionally walks up and calmly did what he did. He knew exactly what he was doing."
Community Support
He added that neighbouring residents came out into the street to show their support. Umair said: "We are all traumatised and so are the local community. The police have said they are investigating at the moment. My father is very well respected by a lot of people in the community. There were a lot of people here in solidarity with us. The community is very close. It is like one big family and they showed us that yesterday when we were all standing together. It could have been a whole lot worse. If it had happened at night and we were all sleeping, who knows what might have happened."
Emergency Services Respond
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "Just after 9.15pm on Wednesday 10 June, fire crews from Bolton North and Farnworth attended a house fire on Eastgrove Avenue, Bolton. Crews arrived quickly and worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe. No casualties were reported. Firefighters departed after approximately an hour and a half." Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.
