Shop owner blasts 'Britain's dumbest criminals' after store doused in petrol and set alight in random attack

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The owner of a convenience store that was doused in petrol and deliberately set alight by three masked thugs has spoken out about the horror arson attack, slamming the suspects as 'Britain's dumbest criminals'.

CCTV footage, given to the M.E.N, shows the three men, wearing hoodies and face coverings, running up to the Zafs GoLocal store, on Butler Street, near Ancoats on Sunday evening (August 25) before one man is seen to pour petrol over the floor.

A wall of flames quickly erupts as a man inside is seen fleeing the store. Seconds later, the suspects, one of which appears to be on fire, are seen quickly making off from the scene. READ MORE Hotel cancels bookings on same day Oasis gigs announced - as prices rocket for rooms Owner Zaf Iqbal, 39, whose family have owned the shop for over 40 years, has spoken out about the moment he got the call to tell him the store was on fire and had been targeted.

He has slammed the thugs as 'Britain's dumbest criminals' due to the lack of damage caused by the blaze - and the moment one of the group appeared to set himself on fire in the incident and was seen running away in flames.