A 31-year-old man from Chris Nissen Park has been arrested for arson after allegedly having “petrol-bombed” a shop in the community.
Somerset West police were alerted to the incident at Ramadan Shop in Copper Street around 21:30 on Saturday (1 October).
According to police, a number of temporary shop assistants witnessed a man throw an object, believed to be some kind of petrol bomb, into the shop. There was apparently a crackling sound before a fire erupted.
Cabdi Hassan Gaal and Mohamed Muse Mohamod, who were standing in for the manager, said the suspect often came into the shop and was known to be rude to staff, who turned a blind-eye because he was a paying customer.
“We don’t know why the man threw the ‘petrol bomb’ into our shop, but luckily I was away from the counter eating an apple when the object came flying through the opening. The opening was covered by a piece of mesh, but there was just enough space to put one’s hand through. If I stood where I always did to help customers, I would have been seriously burnt,” says Gaal.
According to Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, the suspect was arrested shortly after the incident.
Somerset West station commander, Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann condemned the incident and commended the officers for their swift arrest.
The suspect was expected to appear in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday 4 October).
At the time of going to print the outcome of the court appearance was still unknown.
Mohamod says a refrigerator, chair and bread stand were damaged in the fire as well as most of the breads and other goods which had to be thrown out. The estimated damage amounted to R5 000.
