Man charged with racist firebombings

A 20-year-old man has been charged with racially-motivated firebomb attacks in Accrington, Lancashire.

Rajab Ali, of Accrington, was arrested on Friday in connection with an attack on a Ford Fiesta car and another on the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School.

A 16-year-old arrested with him has been remanded on bail pending further inquiries.

Both attacks happened on 28 June following three days of widespread racial unrest involving Asian and white youths in Burnley, six miles away.

Lancashire police said that Mr Ali would appear before Hyndburn magistrates court on Monday on two charges of causing racially-aggravated criminal damage by fire.