This is shocking. Please share everywhere- this should have mainstream media coverage.
A visually-impaired man was set on fire in a random attack after being stopped in the street and asked what it was like to be blind.
The 38-year-old victim was on his way back from a conference and was due to meet his partner when he was stopped in quiet Guildford Road in Brighton at 4.45pm on Friday.
An older man, believed to be in his 60s, approached him and asked about his disability.
He reportedly referred to him as a “poor blind man”, but then set him on fire as he walked away.
A police source told The Argus there was no altercation before the incident and the suspect and victim did not know one another.
The victim, from Portslade, who has no peripheral vision, felt the older man brush his arm before flames shot up his arm.
It is believed an accelerant was used to start the fire and tests are being carried out on the victim’s clothes.
The police source said: “He was going to meet his partner when the suspect engaged him in a brief chat.
“The conversation was something along the lines of, ‘You are blind. You poor blind man’.
“The suspect then walked off and brushed the victim’s arm.
“He felt heat on his arm and then realised he was on fire.
“Luckily he was not injured, but obviously he was very shocked.
“It was totally random.”
The victim, who walks with a cane, managed to extinguish the flames himself.
Detective Constable Darran Newman said: “This is a shocking attack on a vulnerable member of our community. Thankfully he was not injured, but could have been badly burnt if he had not been able to extinguish the flames himself.”
The suspect is described as white and slim. He was wearing pale-coloured clothing which included an open jacket.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101.
A visually-impaired man was set on fire in a random attack after being stopped in the street and asked what it was like to be blind.
The 38-year-old victim was on his way back from a conference and was due to meet his partner when he was stopped in quiet Guildford Road in Brighton at 4.45pm on Friday.
An older man, believed to be in his 60s, approached him and asked about his disability.
He reportedly referred to him as a “poor blind man”, but then set him on fire as he walked away.
A police source told The Argus there was no altercation before the incident and the suspect and victim did not know one another.
The victim, from Portslade, who has no peripheral vision, felt the older man brush his arm before flames shot up his arm.
It is believed an accelerant was used to start the fire and tests are being carried out on the victim’s clothes.
The police source said: “He was going to meet his partner when the suspect engaged him in a brief chat.
“The conversation was something along the lines of, ‘You are blind. You poor blind man’.
“The suspect then walked off and brushed the victim’s arm.
“He felt heat on his arm and then realised he was on fire.
“Luckily he was not injured, but obviously he was very shocked.
“It was totally random.”
The victim, who walks with a cane, managed to extinguish the flames himself.
Detective Constable Darran Newman said: “This is a shocking attack on a vulnerable member of our community. Thankfully he was not injured, but could have been badly burnt if he had not been able to extinguish the flames himself.”
The suspect is described as white and slim. He was wearing pale-coloured clothing which included an open jacket.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101.
