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Mehmet Ozden |
Teenager runs into garden engulfed in a ball of fire
Police investigate a possible ‘sinister motive’ as badly-burned youth fights for his life
NEIGHBOURS have described their horror at witnessing a teenager ablaze in his front garden last week (Thursday).
Mehmet Ozden, 17, is fighting for his life in the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital after suffering extreme burns outside his home in New Bentham Court, Ecclesbourne Road, Canonbury.
Another woman, believed to be his grandmother, was treated for smoke inhalation by emergency services when they arrived on the scene at 4.45am.
Although no one yet knows what caused the boy to catch fire, Islington Police believe an accelerant may have been used and are not ruling out “sinister” motives.
Mr Ozden lives in Cyprus with his dad and was in England for three days visiting his step-dad and mum, who neighbours say have been taken into special police protection following the incident.
Witnesses have told how they awoke in the early hours of the morning to “rocket-like” sounds and smashing glass.
The charred porch of the house has been boarded up with corrugated iron and shards of glass and ash remain strewn across the garden.
While one neighbour ran to help the screaming boy, Ian Sutton, who lives across the road, immediately ran to alert the surrounding houses to the blaze.
He said: “We heard a sound, like a rocket. We jumped, then I heard a pane of glass being broken. I looked out the window and saw a person with what looked like spotlights all across his chest – I didn’t know it was flames.
“I heard a woman screaming and other voices screaming. When I saw my neighbour come out in her dressing gown I knew something was wrong. I got dressed and ran out the door. I saw a house alight. It was so intense it was like someone had put a petrol bomb there. It was so hot you couldn’t go near the door.”
He added: “The guy was across the road. He was naked, wearing no clothes at all. He was walking from one side to the other. My neighbour tried to help him. The flames burned out and she gave him her dressing gown. She told me he had blisters from head to toe.
“I was worried about the neighbours. I was banging the doors on both sides to let them know there was a fire. There’s a disabled lady living on one side. Luckily, the fire didn’t spread.”
Safer Neighbourhoods Teams have stepped up patrols to ease residents’ fears.
Mr Sutton, who has lived in the street for 12 years, said: “It used to be a nice area. I’ve never heard of anything like it since I’ve been here.”
Vital clues to what started the horrific fire may be found by street cleaner Nicky Williams.
He said: “The police asked if I had picked anything up. I gave them a sleeve but I don’t know if it belonged to the boy. You don‘t expect anything like this to happen here. It’s quiet during the day.”
One neighbour, who was too frightened to be named, said: “I heard screaming. I came down to the back garden and there was smoke coming from their kitchen window. The owner of the house wasn’t there. I’m so shocked. They are a lovely family. They’ve been here longer than me and I’ve been here 15 years. I don’t feel safe living here now. Who would do that to somebody?”
Another neighbour said police took photos of her porch because they believe that’s where the blaze began.
A police spokesman said he did not believe the cause to be a petrol bomb but added: “We are still, at this time, unaware of the exact cause of this incident. It remains unclear as to whether this was an accident or something of a more sinister nature and we are therefore keeping an open mind. We can confirm that there is a strong likelihood of an accelerant of some form being involved, however the source has yet to be ascertained. We are continuing to investigate all possible lines of enquiries.
“The male involved remains in a critical condition and police will attempt to speak with him when his status improves.” |
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