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Arson yobs threw gas cylinder on burning car
A family has told how a gas cylinder was thrown on to their burning car by arsonists.
Shaken Mark Burnett, 27, of Thelma Street, Sunderland, today relived his nightmare, which, he says, could have killed his family, including six-month-old son Ryan.
Thugs set his BMW on fire and put the gas cylinder on the blazing car, just metres away from the house where the youngster was sleeping.
Mr Burnett said: "My partner Stacey woke up and saw this orange glow coming from outside the window. I went out into the street and saw my car was on fire and there was a gas bottle on the bonnet.
"I shouted to get the baby out of the room because our bedroom is downstairs at the front of the house and we have a six-month-old sleeping in a cot no more than 10 feet from the fire and we were in bed next to that.
"If the gas bottle had exploded then we would probably be all dead. It really doesn't bear thinking about."
Mr Burnett managed to get Stacey, 19, and little Ryan out of the house and to safety before the fire was put out.
He added: "Fortunately no one was hurt, but we were all left shaken. My car has been totally burnt-out, but my main worry was the family. The car doesn't matter because that can be replaced.
"I don't think these people think about the consequences of their actions. They're stupid idiots.
"There was a baby on board sign in the window of my car and a baby seat in the back yet they still placed all our lives at risk by not only carrying out an arson attack on the car but also putting a gas bottle on the bonnet."
Mr Burnett's car was one of 14 that was hit between 2.40am and 4.10am on Sunday.
Vandals targeted three cars in Thelma Street, nine at The Retreat, and two in nearby Burnville, Eden Vale.
Just 24 hours before a further 10 vehicles were hit by firebugs in the Millfield area.
In yesterday's Echo, another family told how they feared for their lives after arsonists struck their car in Offerton Street, Millfield, which then spread to their home at about 5am on Monday.
Lindsay Coates, 21, and her boyfriend Paul Dale were forced to flee the home with three-year-old Elisha after fearing the fire would kill them.
Police arrested and bailed a 19-year-old man and a 33-year-old man.
Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to contact police on 03456 043043.
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
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