WATCH | SA’s dumbest arsonist? Kimberley fire suspect sets himself alight
Instead of fleeing immediately, he is seen continuing with his efforts before apparently attempting to start a second blaze.
If there was an award for South Africa’s dumbest arsonist, this man might be a strong contender.
A man captured on CCTV setting fire to a liquor store in Kimberley appears to have repeatedly set himself alight while carrying out the attack.
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The footage, which has been shared widely on social media by crime activist and journalist Yusuf Abramjee, shows the man entering the store and deliberately igniting a fire inside the premises during business hours.
What happened next looked more like a comedy movie rather than a carefully planned crime.
As the flames began spreading through the store, the man appears to catch fire himself.
Instead of fleeing immediately, he is seen continuing with his efforts before apparently attempting to start a second blaze using fuel from a container.
The plan quickly backfired.
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The container appears to explode or erupt in a large fireball, engulfing the suspect in flames and causing what appear to be further burns.
The fire spread rapidly through the liquor store, fuelled by alcohol and other flammable products stocked on shelves and counters.
The extent of the damage to the store, the motive for the attack and the condition of the man seen in the footage were not immediately known.
Abramjee reports that police investigations continue.
