A man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 70-year-old was set alight in Birmingham has now been arrested over a similar incident in west London.
The Birmingham victim was attacked as he walked back from a mosque on Monday night and has “horrific injuries”.
Video showed him being approached and speaking briefly with a man, before he was sprayed with an unknown substance and his jacket set alight.
Counter-terrorism police have been involved in the investigation due to similarities to another attack in Ealing on 27 February.
The suspect in that incident started a conversation with an 82-year-old man as they both left the West London Islamic Centre.
Police said the pair spoke for about five minutes before he was doused with fluid and set alight.
He was taken to hospital with severe burns to his face and arms.
A man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in connection with the Birmingham attack and on Wednesday he was also arrested over the London incident.
He remains in custody.
West Midlands Police said they would not speculate about potential motives and urged anyone with CCTV, doorbell footage or any other video to get in touch.
A friend of the Birmingham victim said he’d been left with awful injuries.
“He has serious injuries to the upper part of the body and also his hands and his face at the moment,” explained family spokesperson Shahbon Hussain.
“He’s not even able to open his eyes, he’s undergoing various skin grafts as well as a result of the horrific injuries.”
