Arrest as spate of arson attacks in London kills shopkeeper

Police investigating three arson attacks in south London, which left one person dead, have arrested a man.

A 33-year-old man is being questioned about the attacks, which all took place at Asian-run stores in the south London area. Police believe that the attacks were racially-motivated.

The arrest follows the death of Khizar Hayat at a fire at a Pricecutter store in Clapham Road on April 27. The fire started after a man threw a firebomb into the store around 3:30pm.

Two of Mr Hayat's colleagues managed to escape the store with minor burns, while another man remains critically ill in hospital.

The shop was close to a Lambeth Police headquarters and officers chased the suspect but failed to catch him.

The attack has been linked to two earlier arson attacks in the same area.

The first incident took place at newsagent's in Tulse Hill on April 14. A bottle filled with a flammable substance was thrown into the premises, hitting a customer in the legs and causing burns. No-one else was injured.

The third incident took place at an off-licence in South Norwood on April 20, when another petrol-filled bottle was thrown into the store. No-one was injured in this attack.

Anyone with any information about the attacks is asked to contact Crimstoppers on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA)