On February 5, around 9:30 PM, emergency services responded to a suspected petrol bomb attack on Birch Hall Lane, Manchester. A mother and her children were inside their home when the attack occurred, prompting a swift escape.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the terrifying experience, stating, "I just heard a bang and something flew past me - then the whole room was on fire." She described the chaos, with her screaming at her children to get out, saying, "It was horrible to experience."

Despite the frightening ordeal, the family managed to escape without injury. The mother expressed her disbelief, saying, "I never had a fear of anything like that... I never thought not once that this could happen."

Her neighbour, Raj Mohammed, 52, who quickly alerted the authorities, initially mistook the sounds for a children's game. He stated, "It happened so quickly. It was quite scary," emphasizing that no one deserves such trauma, particularly innocent individuals.

Firefighters arrived promptly and extinguished the fire, which was primarily contained to the living room. However, images reveal extensive damage, with charred walls and furnishings.

A cordon was established at the scene, remaining in place until lunchtime the following day, as crime scene investigators conducted their work.

Greater Manchester Police are treating this incident as arson. Detective Chief Inspector Ian McNabb reassured the local community, stating they are diligently pursuing all leads to identify those responsible for the attack. He encouraged anyone who witnessed suspicious behavior to contact the police.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported that three fire engines from Gorton and Moss Side fire stations attended the scene. Firefighters utilized breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire, working alongside police and ambulance crews for approximately one hour.