Birmingham attack: Son screamed ‘my dad is on fire’ after thug torched man as he walked home from mosque
A PENSIONER set on fire in a horror attack as he walked home from a mosque has been pictured.
Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was strolling along Shenstone Road, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, when he was confronted by a thug on Monday night.
Moments later, shocking CCTV showed Mr Rayaz engulfed in fire and screaming in agony for help just yards from his home.
He was rushed to hospital as his son is alleged to have screamed “my dad is on fire”.
Detectives are quizzing a man, believed to be a Sudanese national in his early 30s, on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Metropolitan Police have linked the attack to a similar one in Ealing, West London last month, where another man was set ablaze.
The father-of-two is stable but suffered severe burns, his family revealed today.
Speaking on behalf of the family, lawyer and friend Shabron Hussain said he rushed to the scene after Mr Rayaz’s horrified son called him.
He revealed: “I had a call from his son to say, ‘My dad is on fire’, so I was one of the first ones to attend.”
Mr Hussain added: “The family are devastated and distressed. They are still trying to come to terms with what has happened.”
Sources told MailOnline how the suspect approached Mr Rayaz and asked him: “Do you speak Arabic?’ to which the pensioner replied: ‘I only speak Punjabi’.”
Seconds later he was torched.
He was arrested after being spotted in Dudley Road Mosque on Tuesday afternoon.
‘VERY BAD WAY’
Mr Rayaz’s nephew Hamza Rayaz, 27, told how the family have visited the burns victim in hospital but “he looks in a very bad way”.
He added: “He’s not able to speak much and can’t see anything at all.
“He’s wrapped up in a lot of bandages and we are just praying that he recovers and that there is no long lasting effects from this horrible attack.
“We don’t want to reveal the name of the hospital where he’s being treated but my uncle is in the intensive care unit and is being well looked after.”
Counter-terror cops are now identified links between the attack in Birmingham and the identical incident in Ealing.
In that case, the victim spoke to his attacker for about five minutes as they both left an Islamic Centre before he was doused in a liquid, believed to be petrol, and set alight.
A West Midlands Police statement, released today, read: “A suspect was spotted by officers who were carrying out enquiries in the area yesterday and an arrest was made.
“At this stage we cannot speculate around the motive into the attack.
“This is a live investigation and our main aim is to make sure your communities are safe and that we bring justice for the victim.”
Cops are urging anyone with CCTV, ring doorbell footage or video footage of the incident should send it directly using this link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/20HQ23C02-PO1.
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch on 101 or alternatively, get in touch anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.