Two teenagers have been found guilty of a horrifying incident where they doused patrons at an East London restaurant with petrol before igniting them. The young perpetrators, aged 17, carried out the attack at the Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill on August 22 last year.

This violent act resulted in two individuals sustaining critical burns, with several others also suffering severe injuries. The court learned that the teenagers arrived at the restaurant armed with machetes, with one of them having stolen petrol from a nearby station. One of the teens provoked diners while the other stood by with a lighter, splashing petrol on the floor, furniture, and customers.

After saturating the restaurant with petrol, a flame was ignited, causing a massive fireball that engulfed the establishment. The duo fled the scene in a stolen Toyota Prius before emergency services arrived. Detectives launched an extensive investigation, utilizing CCTV footage, traffic camera images, and ANPR data to track the suspects’ movements.

The stolen Prius was tracked leaving Peckham and heading to Barkingside, where one of the teenagers was seen filling canisters with stolen petrol at a filling station. Subsequently, they drove to Indian Aroma and carried out the heinous attack. The teenagers were apprehended approximately two weeks later.

During the trial that lasted seven weeks, it was revealed that the teenagers were part of a group intending to cause significant harm, although the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Both individuals were convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon. They have been detained pending sentencing scheduled for October 2.

Detective Inspector Emma Sharp, who spearheaded the investigation, commended the victims and witnesses for their courage and cooperation throughout the trial. She emphasized the police’s commitment to unraveling complex cases and ensuring that dangerous offenders are held accountable for their actions, underscoring the impact of the attack on numerous innocent individuals.