Two masked men poured a flammable liquid outside a Birmingham supermarket and set it alight in an early hours arson attack, putting the lives of residents in flats above at risk.
Fire started during World Cup match
The fire was started at the Mohammedi Stores supermarket in Green Lane, Small Heath, at around 3.30am on Monday, July 6, and was caught on camera. The incident occurred around the time the England v Mexico World Cup match was being played.
The family-run business has been in Small Heath for 30 years and had never had any problems before. Mohammed Usman, 22, whose uncle owns the shop and who has worked there since childhood, said: “We found out about it probably 10 to 15 minutes after it happened. Someone from one of the corner shops rang the fire brigade for us.”
Gas line risk and internal damage
Usman highlighted the danger: “Where they started the fire there is a gas line. If the fire brigade were there five minutes later the whole shop could have gone.” The fire caused internal damage running into the thousands, damaging shutters, a cash machine, the electrics, CCTV, and TVs. The fire spread, and items were also damaged when the fire brigade used water to extinguish it.
Lives at risk in flats above
The fire also endangered residents. Usman said: “There are people living above the shop. There are six flats there. My cousin lives above the shop.” He noted a recent spate of similar incidents: “I have seen a lot of local shops that have been set on fire recently. One in Summerfield Road and a garage. One was last week or week before. Our one must have been targeted. But I don’t know of any motive. We don’t really have any issue with anyone. It could have been a lot worse.”
Community impact and police response
Usman added: “We want to try and find the people responsible and try and get some justice. My uncle is OK but everyone is a little bit shaken. We have not been targeted before and not had an issue before. The business – a supermarket and butchers – has been here over 30 years. It’s a tight-knit family shop. We are part of the community.”
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We were called to a shop on Green Lane, Birmingham, at around 4am on Monday (6 July), following reports of a fire. Following enquiries the fire is being treated as arson. An investigation is underway to identify who is responsible. Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/312959/26.”
