Racist link to British firebombings

LONDON - A racist who has firebombed at least three Asian shops in the last month was responsible for an attack on a store last Friday that killed one man and critically injured another, police said yesterday.

The serial arsonist has been linked to three daytime attacks on shops in south London using almost identical Molotov cocktail-type devices.

The latest attack took place in Kennington, South London, when a man was spotted by officers throwing a firebomb into the shop front.

Khizar Hayat, a father of five, died in the attack. Hayat, a teacher, came to Britain from Pakistan a year ago to earn money after his family was badly affected by the earthquake in Kashmir last October. Another man is in a serious condition and another two shop workers escaped with minor burns.

Police described the suspect as black, barrel-chested and in his mid-30s. He fits the description of a man seen attacking two other shops in South London earlier this month. The first took place at a newsagent in Tulse Hill in mid-April when a bottle filled with petrol was thrown into the premises and struck the legs of a customer, who suffered burns. The second took place at an off-licence in South Norwood on April 20, where again a lit bottle filled with petrol was thrown into the premises, but those inside managed to get out in time.

Detective Superintendent Dick Heselden said: "We are dealing with a serial firebomber who is targeting small Asian businesses."

- INDEPENDENT