FLAMING IDIOTS Moment ‘UK’s dumbest criminals’ trying to commit arson at corner shop by dousing it with petrol set THEMSELVES on fire
THIS is the moment the "UK's dumbest criminals" try to scorch a shop after dousing it with petrol - but light themselves ablaze instead.
Three bungling idiots stormed into a store in Manchester armed with a can of petrol at around 5.40pm on Sunday.
Seconds later, a huge flame engulfed the shop and the masked gang sprinted outside.
But CCTV exposed one of the men having set himself alight - before frantically trying to extinguish the blaze.
At first, they couldn't even put the fire on, and then they ended up burning the shop, and burnt themselves
Zaf, 39, who runs the GoLocal store, told MEN: "The idiots put themselves on fire,
"Britain's dumbest criminals... that's what I've named them."
The baffled owner said he is in the dark over who was responsible for the brazen arson attempt.
"We are worried, and I've had to hire extra staff. The police were a big help, but aren't always a deterrent. Police still don't know who they are," he added.
"Haters are going to hate; sometimes people don't like a successful business, but to go to this extent, someone could've died with how fast the flames went up. And the building and people upstairs."
Zaf's two brothers were manning the shop at the time, though luckily no one was injured.According to the owner, cops told them recent rioting across England has triggered more of these attacks.
"We're a well-known shop in the Manchester area, and we've got a lot of love out there, and we don't know what could have caused it," Zaf continued.
"I'm just shocked myself and my head's a bit baffled."
The disturbing footage showed a customer paying for items before the three yobs marched into the store.
Another was about to enter before spotting the men and decided against it.
Zaf said: "One of the lads was waiting near the door and then all of a sudden, those three lads come up, they've thrown the petrol on the floor.
"At first, they couldn't even put the fire on, and then they ended up burning the shop, and burnt themselves."
He hailed the fact no one was injured inside the store and there hadn't been any customers in at the time.
The incident is believed to have caused around £15,000 worth of damage to the shop.
Zaf's quick-thinking brothers managed to extinguish the fire before it spread to the rest of the building.
The store has since reopened.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the incident is being investigated and treated as arson.
A statement added: "Officers are investigating an arson at a business on Butler Street in Manchester.
"At around 5.40pm on Sunday, August 25, three unknown men entered the shop and poured a small amount of petrol on the shop floor."The fire was extinguished and thankfully, no one was injured and all occupants were safely evacuated.
"Detectives from North Manchester CID are investigating the incident and although no arrests have been made so far, enquiries are ongoing into locating the three men."
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