Shop petrol-bomb suspect bailed

Witnesses heard a large bang and screaming

An 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of injuring a six-year-old girl in a petrol bomb attack in Birmingham has been released on bail.

Fire, police and ambulance services were called to the One Stop Shopping Centre in the Perry Barr area of the city shortly before 1520 BST on Friday.

Witnesses at the TK Maxx store said they heard a "huge bang" and then saw a girl with severe burns to her face.

Police said the girl received serious burns to her head, shoulder and arm.

'Banned customer'

Det Insp Claire Mason, from West Midlands Police, said they were investigating whether the attack may be linked to an incident 24 hours earlier during which the customer was banned from the store.

"I am satisfied that the attack was not aimed at anyone, but was an indiscriminate attack on the shop.

"One of the theories we are looking at is that it was an aggrieved customer and connected to an incident which happened on Thursday, but we are keeping an open mind."

I am absolutely shaking. Why would someone want to do that? Lisa Smith, eyewitness

Police said the girl was in a serious, but not life-threatening condition.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A milk bottle containing a flammable liquid was lit and thrown into the store, an explosion occurred, and a girl was injured.

"The girl is aged six and is not from the West Midlands - she was visiting relatives."

Witness Lisa Smith, a BBC Radio 4 journalist, said she had just entered the store when she heard an explosion followed by screaming.

"I had just walked in and I was at the racks when I heard a huge explosion and turned round and saw flames engulf the top part of the store.

"When the flames subsided I heard screaming and it was the mother or the guardian just screaming.

The girl was covered in clothes to put out the flames

"When they put the flames out we were rushed out and two or three minutes later a child was brought out with facial and arm burns, very badly burnt, and taken straight away.

"I am absolutely shaking. Why would someone would someone want to do that?"

In a statement, David Longmore, district manager of TK Maxx, said: "We are very distressed about the incident that has taken place at our Perry Barr store this afternoon, in which one of our customers was hurt."

A spokesman for the shopping centre said CCTV footage was being examined.