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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sarah Vesty

Bungling petrol bomber ‘set himself on fire’ after starting massive blaze at Scots Tory councillor's home

A bungling petrol bomb thug who targeted the home of a Scots Tory councillor is thought to have set himself on fire during the terrifying attack.

Detectives believe the culprit will have suffered extensive burns to his face, arms and body after being hurt during the incident in Strathaven on Saturday morning.

The suspect, who was caught on CCTV using an accelerant to torch two parked BMWs, approached the scene in Fortrose Gardens on foot and was wearing a high-vis jacket at the time.

Emergency services were called to the scene in the early hour of Saturday morning (UGC)

The terrifying inferno spread to the property while Tory councillor Graeme Campbell and his wife Fiona slept at around 12.20am.

This is the third attack at the couple’s home after the politician spoke out about gangsters.

Detectives have now released a description of their main suspect and are asking anyone who may have spotted someone with unexplained burn injuries to come forward

Flames spread from the motors to the nearby house (EK News)

The firebug was wearing a dark beanie hat, a jogging top with two stripes down both shoulders and the hood up, jogging bottoms with two stripes down the leg and a rucksack.

He may also have been wearing a face mask and has a slim build.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin McGhee said: "The male suspect is believed to have approached the property on foot via Hamilton Road, poured an accelerant onto the vehicles and left via Hamilton Road towards the town centre.

The councillor and his wife were asleep when flames spread to the house (Supplied)

"We believe he may have sustained burn injuries to his arms, body and face as a result of using the accelerant and would ask anyone who has any knowledge of a man who may have suffered from burn injuries in suspicious circumstances since the weekend to please come forward.

"I continue to appeal to anyone who has CCTV or dash-cam footage of the area at around midnight on Saturday, 19 June, to please check back and see if there is any footage that could assist our investigation.

“Information can be passed to officers by phoning 101 and quoting reference number 0090 of 19 June.

“Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

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