Three would-be arsonists set their own car on fire during a late-night attempt to torch a home in Port Pirie, South Australia. The dramatic turn of events led to the suspects abandoning their vehicle and the entire incident was captured on a circulating video.
Security footage released by South Australia Police shows the chaotic moment on Young Street in the Solomontown suburb. The video shows what appeared to be a planned arson attack on June 16. A man can be seen pouring accelerant onto the front of a residence and the footpath while his getaway vehicle remained close by.
After emptying the container, he returns to the vehicle for another container and continues to douse the area. It appears that the plan was to douse the property. Hop into the vehicle and throw an ignited match. However, after the suspect returned to the vehicle and the car began to pull away, flames suddenly erupted from inside.
The car’s interior became engulfed in fire, prompting all three men to scramble out. The suspects fled the scene on foot, leaving the flaming car behind in the middle of the street.
According to the New York Post, an officer shared that the man most likely suffered burns when the car went up in flames and encouraged them to seek medical assistance. “It is extremely likely they have suffered significant burns or injuries in the fire,” police said in a statement.
Emergency services arrived on the scene and found the car still burning. They extinguished the fire and also had to put out a second fire at the front of the targeted home, which had suffered some damage along its exterior. However, the residents inside the home were unharmed, with no injuries being reported.
Authorities have not yet identified the suspects and are asking anyone with information about the individuals involved to come forward.
