The family home of a Bolton imam was targeted in a suspected firebomb attack, with CCTV appearing to show a masked man running onto the driveway before flames spread across the front of the property.
The attack happened on Eastgrove Avenue in the Sharples area of Bolton on Wednesday night. Footage from the scene appears to show a man wearing a helmet and dark clothing approach the house carrying a bag and another item.
The video shows liquid being poured onto an object, which then catches fire. The burning item is thrown towards the front of the house before a window appears to be smashed and more liquid is poured onto the flames, causing the fire to spread rapidly at the front of the property.
The man is then seen grabbing the bag and running from the driveway.
Hassan Patel, 42, who lives at the address with his wife, four young children and his nephew, said he was not at home at the time but that his family had been badly shaken.
He said: “I am shaken by it all really, and the children are shaken. It is a quiet community. We have not had any issues before.
“Everybody is concerned. They are asking why this has happened. The police are investigating. We want to thank everybody who has sent messages. We really appreciate the community coming together.”
Mr Patel is principal for Islamic Education at Taiyabah Masjid on Blackburn Road and also serves as an imam at Masjid e Aish on Seymour Road.
His son, Umair Yusuf, 19, said Mr Patel’s wife, two brothers, sister and cousin were inside the house when the attack happened.
He said neighbours had seen two people dressed in black riding a motorbike up and down the street before the attack. He said one of his younger brothers was outside at the time and believed the occupants had been deliberately targeted.
Umair said his younger brother heard the sound of smashing glass and quickly used a hosepipe while others inside the house threw buckets of water to stop the flames spreading further.
He said the immediate danger of the property catching fire had been brought under control before firefighters arrived.
He added that the family and wider community were traumatised by what had happened, and said it could have been much worse had the attack happened later at night when everyone was asleep.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Bolton North and Farnworth attended the property shortly after 9.15pm on Wednesday 10 June.
A spokesperson said firefighters worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe and that no casualties were reported. Crews were at the scene for about an hour and a half.
Police are investigating the incident.