London: An individual detained on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was set on fire while returning from a mosque in central England was also detained for a related incident in London last month, according to British police on Wednesday.
In the first incident, a man and the 82-year-old victim were talking as they left the West London Islamic Center before the man was doused in what is thought to be petrol and set ablaze. According to the police, the injured man had burns on his face and arms.
The second victim, Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was attacked while returning from a mosque in Birmingham's Edgbaston neighbourhood on Monday night. A man approached him, sprayed him with something, and then set his jacket on fire. He has severe wounds and is still in the hospital.
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West Midlands Police issued a statement saying, "At this time, we are unable to speculate about the attacks' motivations; this is a live investigation and our primary goal is to ensure communities are safe and that we bring justice for the victims.
West Midlands Police announced on Tuesday that counterterrorism officers were assisting their enquiry.
Rayaz is being treated in a hospital for serious burns to his chest, face, and arms and is in "extreme pain," according to his family, who spoke to the Daily Mail.
According to his nephew's statement to the Mail, "I visited him and he looks in a very bad way. He is unable to speak much and is completely blind.
He is covered in numerous bandages, and the 27-year-old continued, "We are just hoping that he recovers and that there are no lasting effects from this terrible attack.
"My uncle is in the intensive care unit and is receiving excellent care, but we don't want to disclose the name of the hospital where he is receiving care. All of us are praying for him.
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The attacker approached Rayaz and inquired with him, "Do you speak Arabic?" according to sources quoted by the Mail. I only speak Punjabi, the pensioner retorted.
Rayaz was ignited and sprayed with an unknown substance shortly after that.
The Rayaz family's spokeswoman, Shahbo Hussain, told the Mail that while everyone was "extremely upset and angry" over what had happened, it was encouraging that the police had reacted quickly and seriously to the assault.
"The UK's counterterrorism unit handled this attack, and we've been having regular meetings with them.
"The community as a whole is united in its condemnation of what occurred. At the moment, helping Mr. Rayaz and his family is our top priority.
On Wednesday, Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood claimed to have video called Rayaz.
I've known the victim's family for a very long time, she claimed. "Seeing him bandaged up and unable to use or move his hands is very upsetting because he is such a well-known and beloved member of our community.
He currently has no vision due to the severe swelling in his eyes. He has very serious facial injuries, as we all know.
He was able to speak, and his first words were a thank you to the community for supporting him and the police as they conducted their investigations and made a quick arrest.
It was a true testament to his character that despite being in excruciating pain, he wasn't thinking about himself.
The ability to track the attacker's movements minute by minute must be of enormous help to the police as they continue their investigation, according to the family, who were moved by everyone's assistance in gathering evidence for the police.
Officers have increased patrols as a result of the panic the attacks have caused in the neighbourhood. Muslim leaders have expressed their concern over copycat attacks to the Mail.
"I didn't know the victim well, but when we passed in the street, he was always a lovely guy," 68-year-old Mohammed Khalil, who lives close to the Birmingham mosque, told the Mail.
Since my wife and I have lived here for 46 years, nothing bad has ever happened.
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Everyone has been living in fear ever since the incident. How can we be certain that no additional perpetrators or future attacks are planned?
Khalil's remarks were echoed by another local, who added: "There is a genuine concern among people about copycats doing this. I've seen a video where the attacker appears to have raised his phone and taken a picture of the burning man.
"If that's the case, I'm worried that this will spark a terrible online craze. What comes next when people are already breaking down doors to watch TikTok videos? lighting Muslims on fire and documenting their burning?"