Brent Police hunt Kingsbury temple attack (From Harrow Times)

Brent Police hunt Kingsbury temple attack

10:24am Tuesday 6th January 2009

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COPS are hunting for a firebomber who set himself alight as he attacked a temple in Kingsbury.

The man, in his 20s and wearing red tracksuit bottoms, was caught on CCTV smashing the front window of the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Temple before setting fire to a petrol can.

As the fire grew, the man's clothes were set alight and he was seen fleeing the scene with flames on an arm and a leg.

He was with three other men, also in their 20s, as he carried out the attack on Saturday, January 3, which is the sixth in two years at the temple in Kingsbury Road.

The fire from the petrol bomb seared the front wall of the temple, which is housed in two semi-detached houses on the main road, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Monks were woken by the attack, which happened at around 3am, and they saw the men fleeing the scene and a large fire developing on the driveway.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the attack to call Detective Inspector Rob Taylor on 0208 733 3159, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Brent Police have stepped up patrols in the area as temple leaders fear there could be a repeat attack.

In the past, the windows of the temple have been smashed, vehicles have been vandalised, and the flags outside have been stolen.

Buddhist monks believe the violence may be a local response to increased tensions between Tamils and Sri Lankan troops in Sri Lanka.

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