Man charged with attempted murder after two people set on fire after leaving mosques

One man was set on fire after leaving a mosque in Birmingham (Picture: BPM MEDIA)

A man has been charged with attempted murder after two men were set alight in the street.

Mohammed Abbkr, 28, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after the incidents in Birmingham and London.

Two men in separate incidents were set alight leaving mosques, West Midlands Police said.

The force said Abbkr is alleged to have sprayed a substance on two men and set it alight in attacks in Ealing on February 27, and in Birmingham on Monday, March 20.

Abbkr is being kept in custody ahead of an appearance at Coventry Magistrates’ Court this morning, police have said.

Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was set on fire as he walked home from Dudley Road Mosque in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham at about 7pm on Monday.

He remains in hospital with severe injuries.

Abbkr was arrested in the Dudley Road area on Tuesday on suspicion of the attempted murder of Mr Rayaz.

He was later arrested on suspicion of the same offence in relation to an 82-year-old who suffered severe burns to his face and arms near an Islamic centre in Ealing.

Officers are continuing to appeal for CCTV, doorbell footage or other video that could help the investigation.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘We continue to ask anyone with CCTV, ring doorbell footage or video footage that could help our investigation to send this to us directly.

‘This was a joint investigation between West Midlands Police, Counter Terrorism Policing and the Metropolitan Police.

Credit: metro.co.uk