Wild moment arsonist catches fire and rolls on the ground in a panic after setting Canberra barbershop alight
Incredible footage shows the moment an arsonist accidentally sets himself on fire before rolling away from the barbershop he was about to set alight.
Australian Capital Territory police released the CCTV footage on Monday as part of a public appeal to identify two disguised perpetrators responsible for a targeted arson attack.
The two individuals were spotted cycling to Gold Blade Barbers on Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, south of Canberra, at around 11.40pm on July 6.
One of the perpetrators smashed the front door with a hammer and stood guard while the other crawled through a hole in the glass.
While inside, the second person poured accelerant from a red jerry can onto the counter and floor of the barbershop.
They then set fire to a piece of cloth hanging from the jerry can, creating a fireball throughout the store.
The arsonist immediately threw the can on the ground, but was still enveloped in the flames.
The video shows the arsonist falling to the ground and rolling out of the barbershop in a desperate attempt to extinguish the burning clothing.
The two offenders were caught cycling to Gold Blade Barbers on Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, south of Canberra (pictured)
When setting fire to the accelerant, one of the perpetrators accidentally caught fire (photo)
The accomplice rushed to the arsonist’s aid and extinguished the fire, after which the pair fled on their bicycles in the direction of Hinder Street.
Police said there were people in the 24-hour gym directly above the barbershop at the time of the incident.
Detective Matthew Sprague said Monday that the arsonist was “very lucky” to be alive.
“It was incredibly dangerous, what happened,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘If the fire had raged any further, we could have expected serious injuries or even deaths as a result of the incident.
‘The images speak for themselves when it comes to what could have been very serious injuries to the people in the gym. [above the barbershop, the premises itself and also the offenders.’
The offender dropped the jerry can to the floor before dropping to the ground (left). He rolled out of the shop in an attempt to extinguish the flames and was helped by his accomplice (right)
Mr Sprague said police had spoken with the barbershop owners and ‘discussed a number of possible motives’, but did not disclose a reason for the targeted attack.
He added police needed to find the offenders ‘as soon as possible’ and urged anyone who could identify the pair or has information about the incident to come forward.
Gold Blade Barbers labelled the attack as an ‘absolute joke’ and claimed the business would not stop despite the fire.
‘Don’t worry everyone we are still open, no matter what you do we won’t stop so do what you gotta do there will be NO EFFECT!’ the business wrote on Facebook one week after the attack.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via Crime Stoppers ACT website and quote the reference number 7792682.