Petrol bomb explodes in flat living room

The bomb was thrown through the front window of a ground floor flat in Church Road between 12.30am and 12.45am. Police said the man living there could have been killed if he had been in the room at the time of the attack.

A pensioner living opposite, who did not wish to be named, said: "I heard a bang and a flash of light lit up my bedroom. I looked out of the window and the room had gone up in flames. I think someone had thrown a brick through the window and then a petrol bomb had gone in afterwards."

Firefighters from Bohemia fire station attended the incident. Sub-officer Laurie Adey said everyone was out of the flats in the building by the time they arrived, including the man living alone in the flat.

He said: "The fire was burning well when we arrived but we got it under control quickly and returned in the morning to make sure there were no hot spots remaining."

Investigating officer DC Vinnie Curtis said: "This is a very serious incident and could potentially have led to serious injury or worse. If the man had been in the room he could have been killed."

Call DC Curtis on 0845 6070999 quoting serial 60 of August 26 with information.