'This is your Eid present': What attacker told Muslim woman as he wrapped her in a carpet and set her alight
By Daily Mail Reporter - 6th May 2010
A robber wrapped a Muslim woman in a carpet and set fire to her after he raided her home.
Muslim attack: Penfold Street, Westminster, where a woman was bashed and set alight during a robbery
The attacker gained entry to the woman's Westminster flat by claiming to be an inspector from her local council, but once inside he bashed her and tied her up before stealing thousands of pounds worth of valuables.
As he left, he wrapped her in a carpet and set it alight, telling her: 'This is your Eid present, you Muslim.'
The woman, aged in her 40s, was saved by neighbours who broke into her flat after hearing her screams.
The attacker has not been caught.
Eid is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan - an Islamic holy month that ended on September 20 last year. The attack took place on September 18, but has only now come to light after the UK Egyptian Association revealed the racial taunt the man made as he left.
A police spokesman confirmed the attack and said investigators 'were keeping an open mind as to the racial nature of the crime'.
Mustapha Ragab, the chairman of the UK Egyptian Association, revealed the nature of the attack.
He said. 'The community is very angry and what makes this more serious is that there is a man out there who has managed to cover his crime so well. People are living in fear that something like this will happen again without police being able to catch the offender.
'It was during Friday prayers at the end of Ramadan when the lady was at home on her own and this man knocked on the door. He told her he was from the council, but when he got in the house he beat her up, tied her up, stole her valuables and was making racist remarks.
'He was saying "This is your Eid present you Muslim" and after attacking her he rolled her into a carpet and set fire to it.'
Detective Sergeant Joanne Belton said this week that 40 officers were working on the case.
She said: 'We have completed substantial inquiries - interviewing witnesses, going house to house and looking at forensics and CCTV evidence.'
The man stole jewellery including gold necklaces, bracelets, rings and a quantity of cash.
The victim was treated for burns in hospital and is said to be 'deeply disturbed' that the thug has not yet been caught.
The attacker is a black male in his 30s who stands around 6ft tall.
comment:
Muslim women can easily protect themselves from such situations if they follow a simple command of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam); that is not to let stranger men in the house (or open the door) without the permission (and presence) of their husband!