Car arson suspect attacked officers and police dog

Image source, Peter Philpott

Image caption, Several cars were reported on fire in the early hours of Friday morning
  • Author, Aida Fofana
  • Role, 大象传媒 News, West Midlands

A man suspected of setting several cars alight threw missiles at officers and tried to strangle a police dog.

Officers were called to a fire at the Horse and Jockey pub on Church Street in Bilston, Wolverhampton, during the early hours, with several cars being set alight shortly afterwards.

A suspect found in a nearby park then threw the missiles and attacked the dog.

A 39-year-old man is in custody, after recieving treatment for a bite from a police dog. He was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endager life.

A nearby resident said the surrounding streets looked like a war zone due to the damaged cars.

Police said multiple vehicles were either set alight or damaged by fire along Union Street, Bell Street and Greencroft.

One witness told the 大象传媒 residents had rushed to try and find the suspect and tackle the flames.

"My family and I were woken up by the sound of explosions so me and my sons ran out to see what was happening.

"A group of us started running from one [fire] to the next to try and find them.

"We were all on edge wondering when is the next fire going to happen."

Police said PD Snow was uninjured.

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