By Josefine Ganko
The moment an arsonist sets an inner west hair salon ablaze, and then catches on fire himself, has been captured on incredible CCTV footage, as police appeal for information to help identify the man.
“It is clear that we need to identify who those people are, because not only are they a danger to the community, they are obviously a danger to themselves,” Detective acting Superintendent Luke Scott said at a press conference on Monday.
The footage from inside the Burwood salon in the early hours of June 13 shows two men, one dressed in high vis and another in all black, forcing entry and spreading accelerant around the shop.
At one point, the second man slips on his own accelerant. The first man then ignites the blaze from the entryway, with a large fireball erupting and the fire rapidly spreading through the shop.
But the man did not get a clean getaway.
Another camera angle shows him running up Nicholl Lane, engulfed in flames.
About 5am, Fire and Rescue crews were called to extinguish a blaze, with residents of the building above the salon evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported, and the shop sustained only minor damage.
CCTV captured the moment the fire was ignited at the Burwood salon.Credit: NSW Police
What remains unclear is whether the arsonist was injured when he set himself alight.
“It’s quite clear when you watch this CCTV, we are not dealing with professionals, we are dealing with amateurs,” Scott said.
“I urge anybody in the community who identifies who those people are, knows who those people are or suspects that one of their friends or family may have caught fire on June 13 to come forward.”
The same salon was targeted again last week in two separate break-in attempts on July 2 and 5, police say.
In both instances, “several males” spotted at the scene failed to gain access and fled before police arrived.
While the damage has been limited, the continued attempted break-ins on the property are affecting the salon’s ability to trade, police say.
Investigators are appealing for assistance in identifying the two men, asking anyone who has further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“I’m calling on the community to assist us to take this idiot off the road so we can make sure the community remains safe,” Scott said.
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