Mohammed Rayaz was seriously injured and required a skin graft after his clothing was set on fire
By Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
A suspect has been charged with two counts of attempted murder following attacks on men set alight outside mosques in Birmingham and London.
Mohammed Abbkr, 28, from Edgbaston in Birmingham, is alleged to have sprayed a substance on to the two victims in the separate incidents.
A man, 82, was set alight by a mosque in Ealing, west London, on 27 February.
Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was also set on fire and seriously injured in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Monday.
Mr Abbkr is set to appear at Coventry Magistrates’ Court later.
The victim in west London, named locally as Mr Hashi, received hospital treatment for severe burns to his face and arms after the attack.
West Midlands Police said the suspect had engaged the man in conversation as they had both left West London Islamic Centre.
Members of the mosque described the incidents as “abhorrent and malicious attacks on two elders within our community”.
Mr Hashi was released from hospital the following day and is now recuperating from his injuries, they said.
“As we commence the blessed month of Ramadan, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” a spokesperson from West London Islamic Centre said.
Mr Rayaz was attacked just after he left this mosque in Dudley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Monday
Mr Rayaz’s family said he remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital following a skin graft operation.
The retired factory worker was sprayed with a substance before his jacket was set on fire near his home in Shenstone Road, a short distance from the Dudley Road mosque he had left.
Shahbon Hussain is a lawyer representing Mohammed Rayaz’s family
Family lawyer Shahbon Hussain said he had got a text message from Mr Rayaz’s son moments afterwards.
“He heard his dad screaming, the family had gone out the house and seen him on fire,” he said. “I immediately went over and the police, ambulance and fire brigade were already there.”
Neighbours also helped to put flames out and carry Mr Rayaz to his home, the lawyer said.
The victim had been “touched at the outpouring of love and support” since the attack, said MP Shabana Mahmood, who spoke to him on a video call.
West Midlands Police 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.”
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said officers had worked closely with detectives from the West Midlands force in the investigation.
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