Lee Rigby Backlash: Arsonist 'Engulfed' in Flames Trying to Burn Down Gloucester Mosque

Police are searching for a suspected arsonist who may have set fire to himself while trying to burn down a mosque in Gloucester.

The man is believed to have been engulfed in flames when he set light to petrol that he had throwen over the door of the Masjid-E-Noor mosque. It was the latest in a series of attacks on Muslims and Islamic buildings in the wake of the Lee Rigby murder in Woolwich.

Fire crews were called.

CCTV footage shows a man pouring petrol around the door, then setting a rag on fire and using it to ignite the fuel.

The suspect can then be seen returning to a dark car, thought to be a BMW or Mercedes, which is driven off by a second unidentified person.

The door of the mosque was damaged but there were no inuries.

The suspect is described as a white man, of medium or large build, wearing a white hooded Puffa jacket and Adidas tracksuit trousers with white stripes. He may have burn injuries, said police.

Det Chief Insp Steve Bean, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "We think the man who did this would have been engulfed in flames when he set light to the door.

"This could have resulted in burns to the face and singed eyebrows.

"If you know anyone who returned home last night with those type of injuries and/or smelling of burning, we want to hear from you."

Chief Insp Richard Burge said: "Gloucester has a wonderfully diverse and welcoming community and I know people will be upset and angry about this.

"In recent weeks I've been buoyed by the fact we haven't seen any of the tensions there have been elsewhere in the country.

"I know now the community will come together, help us with our inquiries and show that it utterly rejects acts like this.

"We'll be increasing community patrols in the area and I'm confident we'll be able to find the offender swiftly."