Police hunt racist serial firebomber

Detectives are hunting a racist firebomber believed to be behind attacks on stores which left one man dead, it was disclosed today.

The suspect has been linked to three separate attacks on stores run by Asians in south London over the past three weeks, including one in Clapham Road, Kennington, on Thursday which claimed the life of Khizar Hayat.

Mr Hayat was burnt to death when he was trapped in the convenience store following the attack in broad daylight.

Detective Superintendent Dick Heselden of the Metropolitan Police said today: "In the absence of any other possible motive, I'm working on the basis that these are racially motivated attacks."

He added: "We must catch him before he commits another arson attack in which someone else may be killed."