Everyone hates waiting in line at the bank, but in an incident last year, customers and employees at a Commonwealth Bank in Springvale were subjected to a terrifying attack, when a man entered the branch, poured gasoline on the floor, and lit it on fire.
At the time of the attack, 14 employees and 23 customers were inside the bank, and 26 of those people suffered injuries. Nur Islam, the man charged with starting the fire spent 4 months in hospital, with burns to 60% of his body. Today he was committed to stand trial on 108 charges, including arson, at Melbourne Magistrates Court.
Graphic footage of the incident was played in court, giving the sense of just how bloody terrifying it must have been for the victims.
Vision released of the moment a man set fire to a bank in Melbourne. Nur Islam has been committed to stand trial over the incident. #7News pic.twitter.com/OJ17Bmk8LP
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 19, 2017
Mr Islam’s lawyer said there was “no disputing” his client had started the fire, but claimed that he had not intended to hurt anyone.
The prosecution claimed that Mr Islam had gone to the bank to withdraw his savings, and then became angry at having to wait too long. He then allegedly walked to a petrol station near the bank, and purchased 11 litres of fuel that he then used to set fire to himself and the bank.
Islam plead not guilty to the charges, and will appear tomorrow in court for an initial hearing.
