Man given hospital order for setting fire to worshippers in Birmingham and London

A man who set fire to two worshippers as they left mosques in London and Birmingham has been sentenced to a hospital order.

Mohammed Abbkr, 29, poured petrol on his victims, in their 70s and 80s, before setting them alight using a lighter, in two attacks last year.

He targeted both victims after praying with the congregation, and then waiting outside as worshippers left.

At Birmingham Crown Court today (17 April), Abbkr was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 27 of the Mental Health Act, after being convicted of two charges of attempted murder.

London attack

Abbkr struck first in the capital on 27 February 2023, when Hashi Odowa, 82, was leaving prayers at the West London Islamic Centre in Ealing.

He had been in the mosque at the same time as his victim, when they both left just before 8pm.

The victim was approached by Abbkr, who was holding a Volvic water bottle containing what is believed to have been petrol.

Abbkr asked the victim if he remembered him, and the victim replied no. Abbkr then said: “I swear in the name of Allah, in the name of God, you will know me.”

He then poured petrol over him, setting him ablaze with a lighter and running away. The victim threw his burning jacket into the road, before being taken to hospital with burns to his face and left hand.

Birmingham attack

Abbkr struck again on 20 March 2023, targeting Mohammed Rayaz, 70, who had been at the Dudley Road mosque in Birmingham.

At around 7pm, he approached Mr Rayaz, on Shenstone Road, and spoke to him, asking him if he spoke Arabic. He then poured fuel over him before setting him on fire.

Mr Rayaz managed to walk to his son’s house nearby. His son opened the door and the victim said: “Son, son, someone’s put me on fire.”

He was left with serious burns to his face and neck, and in need of skin grafts to his hands and face.

He has been diagnosed with depression and PTSD, and may be left with permanent patching to his face.

'Horrific attacks'

Following Abbkr's conviction, Ch Insp Haroon Chughtai, of Birmingham Police, said: “These were absolutely horrific attacks which almost defy belief in their apparent randomness and severity. It is by luck and not by design that these two men, who were simply returning home from prayers.

“Counter-terrorism officers were initially called in to investigate, given the nature of the attacks. While they have continued the investigation, we have found no evidence that Abbkr was motivated by a particular ideology, and so this has not been treated as a terrorist attack.

“Thankfully these kinds of attacks are incredibly rare, but in the aftermath, we worked closely with mosques around Birmingham to offer reassurance and listen to their concerns.

“The courage of the victims and their families has been exceptional. They have been left with physical and emotional wounds that they may never recover from, but I hope today’s verdicts will offer them some comfort.”

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