Teens convicted of arson at Ilford restaurant

Two 17-year-old boys have been convicted of arson with intent to endanger life after they doused the inside of an east London restaurant with petrol and set it on fire.

Two people were left with critical burns and four others were injured when flames ripped through Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, on the evening of 22 August last year.

The defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also found guilty at the Old Bailey of a further charge of possession of a bladed article.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Insp Emma Sharp, who led the investigation, said that the attack "impacted dozens of innocent people".

The Met Police said the teenagers stormed the Indian restaurant at about 21:00 BST when it was bustling with diners.

The teenagers, armed with machetes, poured petrol over the floor, furniture and people in the restaurant, before lighting a taper which ignited a fireball that tore through the establishment, police said.

They were arrested two weeks after the attack, following a police investigation.

The teenagers were remanded and are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 2 October.

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