Wild moment 'arsonist' accidentally catches alight captured on CCTV
Footage has captured the moment the alleged arsonist, who broke into a Canberra barber shop, set himself ablaze while attempting to torch the store.
Vision has emerged of the moment an alleged arsonist accidentally set themselves on fire after breaking into a Canberra barber shop and dousing it with an accelerant.
On Saturday, July 6 at about 11.40pm CCTV vision captured two people standing outside Gold Blade Barbers, on Hibberson Street in Gungahlin. The vision shows the first person, dressed in all black, repeatedly attack the glass door with a hammer, eventually making a big enough gap for the second person, wearing a sports jersey with Australian flag on it, to squeeze through.
Carrying a jerry can, the second person wriggles their way through the shattered door and enters the barber store which was closed for the evening. Wearing a motorcycle helmet over the top of a white face covering, the offender walks around the perimeter of the store while pouring flammable liquid over its contents.
Shocking surveillance footage captures arsonist's blunder
Faintly, the first person can be heard warning their companion to "just hurry up", then urging them to leave saying "let's go, let's go". The second person can then be seen taking a lighter and attempting to set a piece of fabric stuffed into the jerry can alight, but he catches fire himself.
A huge blaze erupts and the alleged arsonist catches on fire. Clearly distressed, they then run to the hole in the glass and dive through it, rolling across the pavement, and out of the video frame, in an apparent attempt to extinguish the flames on their body. With the flames on the offender out, the pair are then seen riding off into the distance on two bicycles as the fire begins to engulf the shop.
Releasing the footage on Monday, ACT Police urged anyone with information over the incident to immediately make contact. "Police would like to speak to anyone who can identify the offenders from the CCTV footage, or who may have information in relation to the incident," they said.
Police said there were people above the barber shop in a 24-hour gym and it was fortunate no one was inured or killed, the ABC reported. ACT Policing Detective Inspector Matthew Sprague said the offenders were also very lucky to appear to have escaped without serious injury. He said police believe the attack was targeted and are investigating several lines of enquiry.
Anyone who can assist the police investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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