A wannabe arsonist trying to set fire to a house with a kid inside of it ended up setting fire to himself.
Dramatic footage showed the wannabe arsonist attempting to torch the home of a young family and subsequently leaving a trail of flames down the street after lighting himself on fire.
Police shared the shocking footage online following the attack, which took place at 11:11pm on Sunday night (September 18) in Gloucester, along Bristol Road.
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Video footage showed the would-be arsonist pouring petrol through the letterbox and then setting it on fire before fleeing the scene, with the flames catching the bumbling arsonist.
(Image: Gloucester Police / SWNS)
The footage further shows the bloke shaking his hands and the container of fuel about the place as he flees from the scene and disappears out of frame.
A young family and a child were inside the targeted house but thankfully no injuries were reported and the fire was quickly extinguished by the owners.
Police are treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life and are currently attempting to identify the man in the video.
A police spokesperson said: “Petrol was put through the letterbox of the home of a young family with a child inside and set alight.
(Image: Gloucester Police / SWNS)
“The footage then shows the suspect running away along Alma Terrace. No one was injured and the fire was quickly extinguished by the home owner.
“The incident is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life and officers investigating the incident have released the footage in the hope that someone may recognise the person responsible.
“If you believe you know the person in the footage, or have any information which may help police enquiries, officers are asking you to come forward.”
A trail of flames could be spotted alongside the road as the man disappears from frame, with Daily Mail reporting police are still actively searching for the wannabe arsonist.
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