Paranoid schizophrenic who set alight to two elderly worshippers as they walked ... trends now
A paranoid schizophrenic who doused to elderly worshippers in petrol before setting them alight as they walked home from their local mosques has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.
Mohammed Abbkr, 29, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was found guilty to two counts of attempted murder in November last year after he attacked 82-year-old Hashi Odowa and 70-year-old Mohammed Rayaz.
Terrifying CCTV footage captured the twisted attacker stalking his elderly victims with lighter fluid in his rucksack before approaching them in two separate attacks - one in London and the other in Birmingham.
Sentencing Abbkr, who has paranoid schizophrenia and believed people possessed by evil spirits were controlling him, Judge Melbourne Inman KC said: 'The nature of each attack was identical. You threw petrol over your victims and then set them alight - the attacks were horrific.
'The two victims in this case were, on any rational view, chosen at random,' the judge added. 'You, however, genuinely believed each of them was one of those trying to take control of you.
'I am wholly satisfied that you committed both of these offences at a time when you were suffering a severe mental illness.'
Abbkr, who is being treated at Ashworth high security hospital in Merseyside, watched the proceedings by video-link.
Mohammed Abbkr, 29, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder at Birmingham Crown Court
This is the heartbreaking image the family of devoted grandfather Mohammed Rayaz want the world to see
Burnt clothing belonging to Mr Rayaz after the horrific attack, in a photo issued by police
Shocking images of Mr Rayaz's family taken 24 hours after the family man was targeted showed him lying at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with bandages covering his wounds.
At the time the photo was taken, the pensioner was unable to open his eyes, hear or speak. When he eventually regained strength, the first question he asked his son was: 'Why did he attack me? I didn't do anything to him.'
Abbkr had come to the UK from Sudan in 2017 seeking asylum before being granted indefinite leave to remain in 2019. Mr Rayaz's sons previously questioned why the UK Government allowed him to say.
'All of us blame the Government and the Home Office,' his son Mohammed said. 'They should have done their checks.'
The father-of-two spent four weeks in hospital, returning weekly to get his bandages changed as he continues the grueling battle to get back to full health. Doctors said it will take around two years for his skin to fully heal.
He must stay out of UV light and wear a cap. He has since been diagnosed with PTSD and depression.
Speaking previously his son Mohammed added: 'He's not the same as he was mentally and physically. We hope that time will heal and that the attacker gets a long time in prison.
'As a family, it has affected three generations - from grandfather, father to grandchildren. As a family we are grateful to the jury and the public for their support and well-wishers. But this will stay with us all of our lives.'
The grandfather and devoted Muslim had completed his sunset prayers at Dudley Road mosque on March 20 last year and decided to stay behind to read more of the Quran on the eve of Ramdan.
Yet unbeknownst to him, Mr Rayaz was being watched intensely by Abbkr. The criminal stalked Mr Rayaz as he left the mosque before stopping to ask his victim whether he spoke Arabic.
Abbkr was found guilty of attempting to murder Hashi Odowa, 82, (pictured) and Mr Rayaz, 70, in separate attacks earlier this year
Pictured: Mr Rayaz, who was set alight as he left a mosque in March this year and has suffered life-changing injuries
MAbbkr, 29, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder at Birmingham Crown Court today after setting fire to elderly worshippers. Abbkr is pictured in a court sketch in October
When Mr Rayaz tells him he speaks Urdu and Punjabi, he can then be seen being sprayed with fuel from a bottle before being engulfed in a ball of flames.
The callous attack came a month after the 29-year-old had travelled to London where he also doused Mr Odowa in petrol before setting him on fire as he left prayers at the West London Islamic Centre in Ealing.
The paranoid schizophrenic targeted Mr Odowa in London after he failed to recognise him, telling him - 'I swear in the name of Allah you will know me.'
After his arrest, Akkbr was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia involving persecutory and religious delusions.
Following his trial Judge Melbourne Inman KC the Recorder of Birmingham, told the court he wanted to hear further psychiatric evidence before considering a proposal to sentence Abbkr, of Edgbaston, to a hospital order.
In police interview, Mr Rayaz told how he thought he was going to die after being covered with a light coloured liquid and having a lighter held to his neck.
He said: 'I never saw him come up behind me or
