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This is the pensioner who was set on fire after leaving a mosque – in a horrific attack being probed by counter-terror police.
Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was sprayed with an unknown substance and set alight moments after he left the place of worship in Birmingham, which he regularly goes to, on Monday.
The retired factory worker is being treated in hospital for serious burns to his chest, face and arms with relatives telling MailOnline that he is in ‘extreme pain’ and unable to open his eyes.
His nephew Hamza Rayaz, 27, said: ‘I’ve been to visit him and he looks in a very bad way. He’s not able to speak much and can’t see anything at all. He’s wrapped up in a lot of bandages and we are just praying that he recovers and that there is no long lasting effects from this horrible attack.
‘We don’t want to reveal the name of the hospital where he’s being treated but my uncle is in the intensive care unit and is being well looked after. We’re all praying for him.’
The attack near Dudley Road Mosque came exactly three weeks after a similar incident 120 miles away in Ealing, when another worshipper, 82, was set ablaze after being followed out of the West London Islamic Centre. He was taken to hospital for treatment for severe burns to his face and arms.
Mohammed Rayaz, 70, was sprayed with an unknown substance and set alight in the attack
The retired factory worker is being treated in hospital for serious burns to his chest, face and arms
Mohammed has two sons and lives with one of them close to where the attack took place.
Yesterday a man was arrested by counter terror police just yards from the spot where the incident happened.
According to sources, he approached Mohammed and asked him: ‘Do you speak Arabic?’ to which the pensioner replied: ‘I only speak Punjabi.’
Seconds later he was set alight.
A witness told MailOnline that the man was detained after he was spotted in the mosque yesterday afternoon. Police were called and members of the community descended in large numbers to apprehend him.
The attack on Mohammed was graphically caught on CCTV camera and has caused panic in the area with officers stepping up patrols.
Video shows the apparent victim talking to a man. It then shows him being set alight
Video shared on social media appears to show a man being set alight by another man in Edgbaston, Birmingham on Monday
One local businessman told MailOnline: ‘I received a phone call telling me that the man who attacked uncle Rayaz was in the mosque. I rushed there and was one of the first people to help detain him.
‘This is a disgusting attack and I hope the man who did this is properly punished. We are very shocked by it all.’
Shahbo Hussain, a local lawyer who is acting as a spokesman on behalf of the Rayaz family and local community said: ‘We are all very upset and angry by what’s happened but it’s positive that the police took immediate action and responded to this attack very seriously.
‘This attack was dealt with by the UK’s counter terrorism unit and we’ve been meeting with them on a regular basis. The whole community is united in their condemnation of what happened our priority at this time is to support Mr Rayaz and his family.’
Speaking at the scene, earlier today, Labour MP Shabana Mahmood, who represents Birmingham, Ladywood, said she had spoken to the victim on a video call.
She said: ‘The victim and his family have been known to me for many years.
‘The victim’s son in particular I have worked very closely with in the local area.
‘We often exchange WhatsApp messages, so I wasn’t surprised to see this.
‘What I read though was completely shocking. It read ‘my dad has been set on fire’.
Dudley Road mosque in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
‘I didn’t know how to process the text, I thought at first they were talking about a car being set on fire and then when I re-read it, I took 10 solid minutes to think before I even knew how to respond to this.
‘I was able to do a video call with the victim yesterday and I will be seeing the victim later in hospital.
‘He is such a well-known, well-loved member of our community and it is very upsetting to see him bandage up unable to use or move his hands and he can’t see anything at the moment because his eyes are very badly swollen.
‘As we know he does have very serious injuries to his face.
‘He was able to speak and the first thing he said was ‘thank you to the community for helping him and helping the police with their enquiries and getting an arrest so quickly’.
‘It was a real testament to his character and wasn’t thinking about himself even though he was in immense pain.
‘He just wanted to thank everyone for their help.
‘It was very upsetting seeing him like this on the video call, especially someone who is usually so full of life.
‘I am looking forward to seeing him today and supporting him through.
‘There has been a massive outpouring of love and affection towards the victim and the victim’s family.
‘They are known in the area and people are pulling together to support and look after them.
‘The family are very touched with how everyone helped and got the evidence together for the police and we were able to chase minute by minute the movements of the attacker which must be immense use to the police as they continue their investigation.’
It comes as Muslim leaders told how they fear the horrific attacks on the two men who were set on fire could trigger sick copycat attacks.
Counter Terrorism Police are investigating links to the similar attacks in Birmingham and Ealing, West London, on February 27.
Mohammed Khalil, 68, who has lived on the road for 46 years, said: ‘I didn’t know the
victim well but when we passed in the street, he was always a lovely guy.
‘I would say he was about 70 years old.
‘I have lived on this road for 46 years with my wife and nothing bad has happened here before.
‘Since the incident everyone is living in fear.
‘How do we know there aren’t more people going to do it or another attack is planned?’
Police arrested a man (pictured) on suspicion of attempted murder after an elderly worshipper was set on fire while walking home from a mosque on Monday
Police released a CCTV image of a suspect from the London mosque incident
Masher Hussain, 66, said: ‘I have known him [the victim] for 50 years.
‘We met working in a chicken factory over 30 years ago and since then have kept in touch.
‘He is a good man and I bump into him now and again on the streets.
‘What happened to him was very bad.
‘I believe he is doing okay and recovering but I do not feel safe around here anymore.’
Jan Smith, 72, who lives next door to the victim, said: ‘What happened was very shocking and upsetting.
‘But this is a close-knit community, and everyone always helps each other out.
‘I have lived here all my life and am very proud of our community and how we come together.’
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: ‘There is a genuine fear amongst people about copycats doing this.
‘In a video I have seen, it appears the attacker looked like he held up a phone and took a picture of the man on fire.
‘If that is the case then I am frightened about this starting a horrible online craze.
‘You already have people kicking doors for TikTok videos, what is next? Setting Muslims on fire and filming them as they burn?
‘I just hope the gentleman who was attacked is ok. It must have been terrifying for him.
Police arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder on Tuesday afternoon.
Chief Superintendent Richard North said: ‘The victim was walking back from the mosque on Dudley Road, he’s walking in a public place on Shenstone Road, when he was approached by the suspect.
‘The suspect sprayed some sort of substance on the victim’s coat and essentially set fire to him.
‘As a result, he sustained really serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
‘I’m pleased to say that even though those injuries were very serious, he is in a stable condition and his life is not believed to be at threat.’
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