The attacker had earlier been seen talking to the pensioner for five minutes
An 82-year-old worshipper has been left with severe burns after being doused in petrol and set alight outside a mosque.
Police are hunting the suspect who launched the savage attack, believed to have been carried out by another attendee.
The pair spoke for around five minutes outside the building before the attacker set fire to the pensioner – before calmly strolling away.
The elderly victim was rushed to hospital with severe burns to his face and arms after the attack outside the West London Islamic Centre in Ealing, west London.
Detectives on Friday released CCTV images of a man they want to question over the incident that happened at around 8pm on February 27.
The suspect talked to his elderly victim as they both left the mosque, according to Scotland Yard.
Both men had been chatting together for around five minutes before, out of nowhere, the suspect doused the pensioner in a liquid, thought to be petrol, and set alight to him using a lighter.
He then simply “walked away” from the scene as his victim burned, police said.
The elderly man was rushed to the A&E, where he received treatment for severe burns to his arms and face. Investigators acknowledged the anxiety the incident had caused the mosque and its surrounding Muslim community. CCTV images showed a man kneeling to pray in the mosque in black trousers and a dark puffer jacket, with a white logo over the left side, before leaving the building with a rucksack on his back, wearing brown shoes.
Detective sergeant Steven Constable of the Met Police said: “I know this will be an incredibly shocking incident for the community and we are carrying out a full investigation into what happened.
“Understandably, there is a great deal of local concern in the wake of this incident and local officers have been carrying out reassurance patrols daily at the mosque.
“We are continuing to work alongside the West London Islamic Centre, who have been very supportive of our investigation and have been assisting us with our enquiries.
“A key part of that is identifying the man in the image we have released.
“If you recognise this man I would urge you to get in touch, either directly with police or to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers.
“I would also urge anyone who witnessed this incident and has not yet spoken to police to please get in touch.” Anyone with any information on the man in the CCTV images should contact police on 101, giving the reference 6422/27FEB, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.
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