A busy barber’s shop was transformed into this blackened shell by crazed Dilovan Sindi.
The 39-year-old sparked an explosion at Ahmed’s Hair Design, in Westerhope, Newcastle, after walking into the shop with a can of petrol and a lighter. He was today jailed for seven years and two months at Newcastle Crown Court after earlier admitting arson with intent to endanger life, grievous bodily harm and attempted wounding.
And today after he was locked up we can reveal the devastating damage his attack caused. Pictures released by police show the blackened interior of the Stamfordham Road shop in the aftermath of the blaze.
Walls and windows are covered in black debris, while seats are black and broken. There is also extensive damage to the ceiling of the shop, and a large picture of the River Tyne bridges on the wall appears to be covered in black dust.
The damage caused to Amed’s Hair Design in Westerhope
(Image: Northumbria Police)
It was on the morning of Wednesday May 23, 2023, when emergency services received reports of an explosion at the shop.
Four people were taken to hospital. Sindi and abnother man suffered life-changing injuries. CCTV footage showed Sindi entering the barber shop with a can of fuel. He then poured petrol over furniture in the premises and several people inside. Following a struggle, the petrol was ignited by a lighter which was held by Sindi, causing an explosion which resulted in serious burn injuries to himself and another man.
Police believe that Sindi, of Sulgrave Road, Washington, was in dispute with the owner of the business.
Dilovan Sindi, who admitted an arson attack in Westerhope
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Sindi was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life following his discharge from hospital.
In September last year, as he was due to go on trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Sindi entered guilty pleas to arson with intent to endanger life, grievous bodily harm and attempted wounding.
Police said it was lucky no-one died. After seeing him sentenced Det Insp Rona Malessa, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost we would like to pay tribute to the victims. They have been put through a horrendous ordeal and we hope that they can take some closure now that their attacker has been jailed.
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“I would also like to thank our partner organisations Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service who were so crucial to the emergency response on the day in putting out the blaze and getting those injured the appropriate treatment before transporting them to hospital.
“Dilovan Sindi’s actions on May 23, 2023, were utterly abhorrent and he caused serious, life-changing injuries to one of his victims. It is fortunate that we are not dealing with much worse outcomes given the seriousness of the attack that day. I hope this case demonstrates to the public that we will always look to prosecute violent offenders in our communities and do everything we can to put them before the courts and bring them to justice.”
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