A suspected arsonist was filmed setting themselves on fire while fleeing the scene of an attack, police say. The bizarre incident happened shortly after authorities in Capalaba, southeast of Brisbane in Australia, received reports of a fire at a convenience store and gift shop, at around 9:30pm on Thursday. Police and fire services rushed to the scene and quickly brought the flames under control before consulting the store’s CCTV footage in a bid to track down the perpetrator.
Footage showed a man running from the building while on fire and jumping into a blue Mazda Sezan, which also burst into flames as he drove off. A staff member and customer who had been in the shop at the time both escaped without injury, according to 7News.
“Doesn’t seem like he thought it through if he’s also on fire,” Dana Henley, who works at a nearby restaurant, said.
Queensland Police Service said they found the burning vehicle abandoned in the nearby suburb of Birkdale a short while later.
A 25-year-old man was reportedly arrested in relation to the incident on Friday afternoon.
He was understood to have been taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where he remains under police guard for treatment for injuries thought to have been sustained in the fire.
Officials said they also seized two firearms from the 25-year-old during the arrest.
A crime scene remains in place at the PT Convenience and Gifts and investigations are ongoing, according to local reports.
Staff members said it was the second arson attack on the business in a matter of weeks, with a 28-year-old from East Ipswich charged following a similar firebombing incident just 11 days prior.
