NewsUK NewsCourt caseTwo people were left with critical burn injuries after two teenagers poured petrol over customers before setting fire to an east London restaurantBrian Dillon and Berk Uyal Live News Content Editor/Reporter09:31, 18 Jul 2026Updated 11:58, 18 Jul 2026Two teenagers have been convicted after they poured petrol over customers inside a restaurant before setting them alight in a terrifying attack.‌The pair, who cannot be named because they are both 17, targeted Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill, east London, on August 22 last year.‌Two victims were left in a critical condition with severe burns, while several others also suffered serious injuries.‌A court heard the teenagers drove to the restaurant armed with machetes after one of them stole several litres of petrol from a nearby petrol station. One teen taunted diners while his accomplice stood ready with a lighter as petrol was splashed across the floor, furniture and customers.Once the restaurant had been doused, a taper was lit, triggering a fireball that engulfed the premises. The pair fled the scene before emergency services arrived, driving away in a stolen Toyota Prius.‌Detectives launched an investigation, piecing together CCTV footage, traffic camera images and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data to trace the suspects' movements.Investigators established the stolen Prius left Peckham shortly after 7pm before travelling to Barkingside, where CCTV captured one of the teenagers filling canisters with stolen petrol at a filling station. The pair then drove to Indian Aroma before carrying out the attack.Both teenagers were arrested around two weeks later. Jurors heard they were part of a group that had set out to cause significant harm although the motive for the attack remains unclear.Article continues belowFollowing a seven-week trial, both teenagers were found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon. They were remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on October 2.Detective Inspector Emma Sharp, who led the investigation, said: "This group tried to outmanoeuvre the police and avoid the consequences of their premeditated violence, but today's outcome showcases that our detectives can unravel multifaceted incidents to secure justice and take dangerous offenders off our streets."The August attack impacted dozens of innocent people, and I'd like to thank the victims and witnesses for their steadfast resilience since the incident, and throughout the trial."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Court caseCCTVArson