Two teenagers have been found guilty of a shocking incident where they poured petrol on customers inside an East London restaurant and set them on fire. The incident took place at the Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill on August 22 last year.
The perpetrators, both aged 17 and unnamed, caused severe burns to two victims and several others suffered serious injuries. They arrived at the restaurant armed with machetes after stealing petrol from a nearby station. One of the teenagers taunted diners while the other prepared to ignite the petrol that had been spread across the premises.
After setting the restaurant on fire, the pair fled in a stolen Toyota Prius before the arrival of emergency services. Detectives conducted an investigation using CCTV footage, traffic camera images, and ANPR data to track the suspects’ movements.
The stolen Prius was seen leaving Peckham and heading to Barkingside where one of the teenagers was captured on CCTV filling canisters with stolen petrol. They then proceeded to the Indian Aroma restaurant to carry out the attack.
Both teenagers were apprehended around two weeks later. During the trial, it was revealed that they were part of a group planning to cause harm, although the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Following a seven-week trial, the teenagers were convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon. They have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on October 2.
Detective Inspector Emma Sharp, leading the investigation, commended the victims and witnesses for their resilience and thanked them for their cooperation throughout the trial. She emphasized the police’s commitment to unravel complex incidents and bring offenders to justice.
