A masked individual set fire to the home of Imam Hassan Patel in Bolton’s Sharples suburb on Tuesday, leaving the family traumatized but unharmed. Security footage showed the attacker, wearing a black helmet and tracksuit, igniting a blaze on the driveway, smashing a front window,and spraying flames inside the house before fleeing.

Security footage captures the precise moment of the attack on the Patel family home

The video, released by Greater Manchester Police, shows the attacker using an accelerant to start the fire and a can of propellant to spray flames into the interior. According to the footage, the assailant calmly executed the attack before escaping the scene, leaving a trail of destruction behind.

Family’s quick response prevented a catastrophic blaze

Imam Patel was not present, but his wife, four young children and a nephew were trapped inside as the fire spread. According to Umair Yusuf, the nineteen‑year‑old son of the imam,the family fought the flames with buckets of water and a garden hosepipe, preventing the fire from engulfing the property before the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arrived.

Witnesses point to a possible hate‑driven motive and a motorbike accomplice

Umair Yusuf said witnesses saw two men in black on a motorbike circling the street; one stayed on the bike while the other carried out the attack. The family and local observers believe the crime was fueled by racial hatred, a claim echoed by Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples, who condemned the act as “entirely unacceptable.”

Community solidarity counters the attacker’s intimidation

Neighbors gathered to support the Patel family,offering emotional and practical help. Police have stepped up patrols in the area and are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the motorbike or suspects to come forward to aid the investigation.

Unanswered questions: Who is the attacker and what prompted the hate‑based attack?

The investigation has yet to identify the masked attacker or confirm whether the act was part of a broader hate‑crime trend. Police have not released any suspect information, and the motive remains unclear beyond the family’s belief in racial hatred.