Two 17-year-olds sentenced to decade for arson that burned diners at London Indian restaurant

In August, two 17-year-old youths armed with machete-type weapons forced their way into the Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill, East London, and, with a third accomplice, doused the interior with petrol before partially closing the door and igniting a paper that caused an explosion. The attack left eight diners trapped, resulting in life-changing burns: a woman suffered burns on 50 % of her body, including 45 % full-thickness, and her husband incurred mixed-depth burns on 51 % of his body.

At the Old Bailey, His Honour Judge Michael Grieve KC handed each teen a ten-year custodial sentence with an additional three-year extended term, labeling the act a “sophisticated and professional operation” likely ordered by an unidentified older criminal. Prosecutor James Dawes KC emphasized the trauma inflicted on the victims, while defence counsel Mark Graffius KC suggested the youths were being exploited. The third participant, who poured the petrol, was not tried in this proceeding.