‘Mistaken identity’ arson attack leaves two people with third-degree burns

Two men dressed in black with their faces hidden carry petrol cans into the front yard of a suburban home in the early hours of the morning. Moments later, the property is ablaze, leaving the two occupants inside to scramble for their lives.

On Monday, police released CCTV footage of the attack that shows a white Honda HR-V deliver the men outside the house at King Street, Fairfield West, at 2.10am on March 23. The masked men crouch behind some hedges with the petrol cans as they wait for the car to leave.

After the car has driven away, the men appear to pour petrol over the front yard, which is quickly engulfed in flames.

As the home catches fire, the two men run from the scene to a nearby street, still carrying the petrol cans, where they are picked up by the same white Honda.

The two residents of the home, a 28-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, were woken by the flames and escaped the home.

However, the attack left them with second and third-degree burns to their hands and lower bodies. They were taken to hospital in serious conditions but have since been released.

The March 23 incident was referred to the State Crime Command’s financial crimes squad arson unit. Detectives determined the fire was deliberately lit. The victims had only moved into the home less than a year before the fire, and were unlikely targets, the police said.

“It is believed they were targeted in a case of mistaken identity,” a police statement said.

Police are calling on anyone who may recognise the two men in the CCTV or the car, or who may have dashcam footage relevant to the case, to come forward to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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