Moment man lights himself on fire in botched arson attack

Victoria police in Australia still haven't identified him

CCTV footage has been released of a man lighting himself on fire in Australia just over a year ago.

The botched arson attack occurred in the city of Melbourne towards the end of May 2024, with the yet-to-be-identified individual captured on camera pouring liquid around the Al Marjan restaurant before accidentally setting himself alight.

Local police decided to unveil the video this week in a bid to find the man - described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall with a large build and olive complexion.

Having smashed through the eatery's door in a silver Mercedes-Benz E240, the hooded bloke used a red jerry can to flood the floor in accelerant.

Unbeknownst to him, the liquid had splashed back onto his clothes and so as soon as he set the area on fire, he also went up like a wicker man.

He immediately dropped to the ground and rolled around in a desperate attempt to kill the flames, and then bolted from the scene in the Mercedes.

Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the Hume Highway business shortly after 4:30am on May 21.

Al Marjan suffered minor damage on that particular occasion, but was targeted for a second time on November 6.

"This is yet another example of just how unpredictable fire is and the inherent dangers of arson – it is probable this man will have needed some kind of treatment for significant burns," said Taskforce Lunar Detective Inspector Graham Banks in a statement.

"We are conscious that those involved in lighting the fires are likely the puppets for those pulling the strings in this syndicate, and they are being left with serious – or life-changing, as we've seen previously – burn injuries.

"Arson attacks put not only people's livelihoods at stake but also people's lives. We are doing everything we can to bring this dispute and the criminality linked to it to an end, but we need the community's support and assistance."