Two adolescents have been found guilty after they drenched patrons in a restaurant with gasoline and set them on fire in a horrifying assault. The individuals, aged 17 and unnamed due to their age, attacked the Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill, east London, on August 22 last year.
The attack left two victims critically injured with severe burns, while several others sustained serious harm. According to court proceedings, the teenagers arrived at the eatery armed with machetes after one of them stole petrol from a nearby station. One teen provocatively engaged with diners while the other stood prepared with a lighter, spreading petrol across the establishment and its customers.
After saturating the restaurant, a flame was ignited, causing a blaze that engulfed the premises. The duo fled the scene before emergency responders arrived, escaping in a stolen Toyota Prius. Detectives initiated an inquiry, utilizing CCTV footage, traffic camera records, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data to track the suspects’ movements.
Investigations revealed the stolen Prius departed Peckham around 7 pm before heading to Barkingside, where one of the teenagers was captured on CCTV filling containers with stolen petrol at a filling station. Subsequently, they proceeded to Indian Aroma and carried out the assault. Both teenagers were apprehended approximately two weeks later.
During a seven-week trial, the jury learned that they were part of a group intending to cause significant harm, although the motive for the attack remains unclear. Following the trial, both individuals were convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon. They were detained pending sentencing on October 2.
Detective Inspector Emma Sharp, the lead investigator, commented, “This group attempted to outsmart the authorities and evade accountability for their premeditated violence, but the outcome of today’s proceedings demonstrates our detectives’ ability to untangle complex incidents, ensure justice, and remove dangerous criminals from our communities.”
“The August assault impacted numerous innocent individuals, and I extend my gratitude to the victims and witnesses for their unwavering resilience post-incident and throughout the legal process.”