Birmingham link to police hunt for arson attack on mum and baby in Leeds

Police are hunting two suspects in connection with a terrifying arson attack on a home where a mum and baby were living.

The wanted men have been pictured wearing hats and dark clothing following the frightening incident, in Leeds. A vehicle they were using passed through Birmingham after travelling from Thames Valley, it was later recovered in the West Midlands.

The force said the attack happened at around 9.40am on July 13 last year at the property on Scott Hall Road. They said two males had approached the house, to the north of the city, with one pouring petrol through the letterbox and igniting it.

Get a bespoke headline round-up, as well as breaking updates, when you sign up to BirminghamWorld’s free emails A spokesperson for the force said a tragedy was narrowly avoided when a family member returned to the home just after the blaze broke out. And although the baby was whisked out of the building quickly, an outline of their tiny body was still visible in the soot covering their cot.

Detective Constable Lindsey Crawford, of Leeds District CID, said: “This incident could have had tragic consequences. “Fortunately, another family member has returned home shortly after the fire was started but even in that short time the baby’s room was affected, with a clear baby-shaped outline found in soot in the cot afterward.

“We need to identify these pictured males as part of our ongoing enquiries. I would urge anyone with information about their identities, or indeed the males themselves, to come forward to assist our investigation.

“We believed the vehicle used by the suspects travelled to West Yorkshire from the Thames Valley area via Birmingham. It was later recovered in the West Midlands. If anyone from these areas has any information that could assist us in our enquiries, I would also urge them to get in touch.”