Watch the moment a suspected arsonist sets himself alight in Sydney's west
CCTV footage has captured the moment a man set himself on fire in what police suspect was a targeted arson attack on a western Sydney barber shop.
The incredible footage shows a man dressed in a black hooded tracksuit scampering down the footpath of Merrylands Rd towards a barber shop with two items in his hand just after 4am.
He begins bashing the shopfront with one of the items, creating an opening in the barber's front window through which he pours accelerant from a red jerry can.
He also pours the accelerant on the footpath before bending down and setting it alight very close to his feet.
The man is quickly engulfed by fire and appears to panic, throwing the jerry can and rolling into nearby bushes in an attempt to extinguish the flames engulfing his left hand and torso.
Police revealed the man was wearing blue gloves at the time, which he appears to be attempting to remove as he struggles in the bushes.
Shortly after, emergency services were called to the barber shop, where they arrived to find a small fire at the front of the business which was quickly extinguished.
Police said the man fled the scene in a silver-coloured hatchback before they arrived.
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