Bolton Imam's Home Targeted
Bolton Imam Hassan Patel's home firebombed in targeted attack, police investigate racial motive.
Key Points
Imam Hassan Patel, 42, is identified as the “principal for Islamic Education” at Taiyabah Masjid (Blackburn Road) and an imam at Masjid e Aish (Seymour Road).
Patel said: “I am shaken by it all really, and the children are shaken. It is a quiet community. We have not had any issues before,” and added that police were investigating and they wanted to “thank everybody who has sent messages” and appreciate the community coming together.
The CCTV account includes further specifics beyond the general “firebomb” and window break: the suspect appears to pour liquid from an object in one hand as a second object is carried in the other, then hurls the burning item toward the front, smashes the front window, pours more liquid onto the flames, and is later seen “grabbing the backpack before fleeing the driveway.”
Umair Yusuf said the attackers’ behavior appeared deliberate: “One person stays on the motorbike and the other intentionally walks up and calmly did what he did. He knew exactly what he was doing,” reinforcing his view that it was “racially motivated” and targeted at their home.
A masked man firebombed the family home of imam Hassan Patel in Bolton on Wednesday night, with CCTV footage capturing the attack in chilling detail. The suspect ran onto the driveway of the house on Eastgrove Avenue, in the Sharples area, shortly after 9pm and used an incendiary device to set the front of the property alight before smashing a window and fleeing. No one was injured. ITV News reported that police are now investigating what is believed to be a targeted attack.
Patel, 42 — who serves as principal for Islamic Education at Taiyabah Masjid on Blackburn Road and as an imam at Masjid e Aish on Seymour Road — was not home at the time. His family and neighbors quickly put out the flames using buckets and a hosepipe. "I am shaken by it all really, and the children are shaken," Patel told Liverpool Echo. "It is a quiet community. We have not had any issues before."
CCTV Captures a Methodical, Step-by-Step Attack
The footage, reported by Daily Mail, shows the suspect wearing a black motorcycle helmet, mask, and dark tracksuit. He appears to pour liquid from one container while carrying a second object. He then hurls the burning device at the front of the house. He smashes the front window. He pours more liquid directly onto the growing flames. Finally, he grabs a backpack before running off the driveway.
The deliberate sequence points to clear preparation. Security observers noted the suspect's use of a helmet to hide his identity, a secondary accelerant after the initial ignition, and the careful retrieval of the backpack — all signs of a planned attack rather than a spontaneous act.
Son Says Two Attackers Cased the Street Before Striking
Patel's son, Umair Yusuf, said neighbors saw two people in dark clothing driving a motorbike slowly up and down Eastgrove Avenue before the attack. "One person stays on the motorbike and the other intentionally walks up and calmly did what he did," Yusuf told ITV News. "He knew exactly what he was doing."
Yusuf said he believes the attack was racially motivated and deliberately aimed at their home. Daily Mail reported that police are keeping an open mind on motive while treating the incident as a targeted arson. Greater Manchester Police have not yet named any suspects or confirmed an arrest.
Neighbors Doused the Flames Before Fire Service Arrived
As soon as the attacker fled, Patel's family and neighbors moved fast. Armed with buckets of water and a garden hosepipe, they brought the fire under control before emergency services reached the scene. No one was reported injured. The quick action prevented what could have been a far more serious blaze.
Liverpool Echo reported that the front of the house sustained visible fire damage and the front window was smashed. The road was later cordoned off as investigators examined the scene and collected forensic evidence, including remnants of the incendiary device used in the attack.
Community Rallies Around Imam as Police Pursue Leads
Messages of support flooded in from across the Bolton area after news of the attack spread. Patel said he wanted to "thank everybody who has sent messages" and expressed gratitude for the community coming together. The Taiyabah Masjid, where Patel works, is one of the larger Islamic centers in the region.
According to Head Topics, Greater Manchester Police increased patrols in the Sharples and Blackburn Road areas following the attack. The incident comes against a backdrop of rising religious hate crime in England and Wales — Home Office figures show such offences rose 9% in the most recent reporting year, with incidents targeting Muslims making up roughly 38% of all religious hate crimes recorded.
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