British police are trying to apprehend a serial racist firebomber

Patrick Barkham:

A serial racist firebomber who killed a shopkeeper last week in a daylight attack yards from a police station has thrown petrol bombs into two other Asian businesses and could strike again, detectives warned yesterday.

Police said they were hunting a well-built black man who has launched at least three arson attacks against small shops in south London in the past three weeks.

A senior officer at the Metropolitan police's Lambeth headquarters witnessed the latest attack, in which Khizar Hayat died after he was trapped in the fire at a Pricecutter store in Clapham Road, Kennington. The officer, who saw the arsonist from a third floor window, gave chase and helped draw up a distinctive image of the man, who is described as black, thickset and in his mid-30s.

"In each case, the shopkeepers and owners have been unable to give any motive for the attacks. In the absence of any other possible motive, I'm working on the basis that these are racially motivated attacks," said Detective Superintendent Dick Heselden, of the Metropolitan police. "We are very concerned that this individual may offend again. It's my opinion that we're dealing with a serial firebomber who is targeting small Asian businesses."

He added: "We must catch him before he commits another arson attack in which someone else may be killed."

Detectives have contacted police in Birmingham to examine whether this "very rare" type of arson attack could be connected to the race riots between black and Asian residents in Lozells Road last October, in which a black passerby was stabbed to death and dozens were injured. The disturbances began after rumours that a black teenager had been gang raped in an Asian-owned beauty salon. Mr Heselden said that at this stage there was "absolutely no reason to believe there is a connection" to events in Birmingham.

Officers have also examined whether the serial arsonist could be linked to the brutal killing of two brothers in nearby Tooting. Five people have been charged with the murder of Hayder Ali, 23, and Mohammad Ali, 24, in what was believed to be gang-related violence.

Police hunt racist serial firebomber

Shopkeepers warned in arson probe

Race-hate fears grow after Asian shops are firebombed

RACIST BOMBER