Two more held after teacher's hair is set on fire

Two more teenagers have been arrested by police investigating an unprovoked attack on a Swedish teacher who had her hair set alight on a train, the British Transport Police (BTP) said today.

The pair, both 15-year-old boys from Swanley, Kent, were arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm yesterday following the incident on a train running from Hastings, East Sussex, to London Victoria.

Both suspects were taken to a police station in Bromley and released on bail until Thursday, 25 August, said BTP Inspector Gary Ancell, who is leading the investigation.

A third teenager, a 16-year-old boy also from Swanley, was also arrested yesterday and freed on bail until September 29, pending further inquiries by BTP officers.

The arrests follow the release on Wednesday of CCTV images of four youths police wanted to speak to over the attack on the Southern Trains' service at around 6.30pm on Sunday, 19 July.

The victim, a Swedish teacher visiting England with a group of her students, was walking through the carriage when one of a gang of youths held out a lighter and touched her hair.

She only realised her hair was on fire when she walked towards her students and they started screaming and pointing to her hair. The teacher was then able to pat out the flames.

The attack left part of her hair singed and although she did not suffer burns or need hospital treatment, the incident is said to have left her extremely distressed.

* Anyone with further information about the incident should call 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.