Offenders hurl molotov cocktail at home while family sleep

Two people have been caught on camera lighting a molotov cocktail and throwing it at a house while a family slept inside. Now, a shaken father has called for help to identify the culprits as police investigate.

Toowoomba man Josh Leonard is appealing for anyone with information about the identities of two people who threw a molotov cocktail at his partner’s house to come forward.

Grainy CCTV vision of the incident shows two people walk to a fence, light a rag that had been stuffed into a bottle containing petrol and then throw it at a Greenwattle Street house on March 24.

Mr Leonard said he was asleep in the house at the time, with his partner and her two daughters and did not notice what happened until the next day.

“The bottle did not smash, thankfully,” he said.

“We were sleeping right where it hit, with my partner’s 16-year-old daughter in the next room.”

Police are investigating after a molotov cocktail was thrown at a Greenwattle Street home in Wilsonton on March 24, 2024

The explosive landed on grass between two vehicles with Mr Leonard thanking the dewy conditions and Toowoomba’s cold nights for preventing any serious damage.

“The bottle smelt of petrol,” he said.

“It is very concerning that stuff like this is happening.”

About a week before the molotov incident someone threw a bottle at Mr Leonard’s neighbour’s BMW, smashing its quarter panel window.

He suspected the two incidents were connected as both involved Trivoski brand vodka bottles.

“I hope someone drinks that vodka and may have noticed the bottles are missing,” Mr Leonard said.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said officers were aware of the incident with a wilful damage investigation under way.

Anyone with information about it is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Offenders hurl molotov cocktail at home while family sleep