Activist unsettled by arson outside house

A former councillor and parliamentary candidate has said she is shocked and unsettled after arsonists set fire to a car outside her house in what is thought to have been a targeted attack.

Salma Yaqoob told the BBC: "We were just coming [out of the house] and just seeing this inferno. It was like being in a film, the flames were literally like roof-high."

West Midlands Police said the fire was believed to have started shortly before 02:00 BST on Wednesday at the property in Birmingham.

The car belonged to Yaqoob's brother, who lives next door to the activist along with their mother, with the car parked on her brother's drive.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We are investigating and would urge anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting 20/271790/26."

Yaqoob's family woke in the middle of the night, with her brother banging on the doors in the house, telling his family to get out.

The car was in close proximity to the house, with the flames spreading to a fence and trees near the property.

"Two of my brothers were home and were desperate, trying to get water, getting whatever containers they could in the house while we waited for the fire brigade," Yaqoob said.

"So, [I'm] just really thankful and feel fortunate that nobody was hurt."

The activist, a former councillor for Birmingham City Council representing the Respect party, said two individuals could be seen on CCTV pouring a flammable liquid over the car before it was set alight.

She told the BBC that the car had recently been used to campaign for the Gorton and Denton by-election to support a Green Party candidate.

"I think it's sensible at this stage not to speculate about who's done it, what the motive is," Yaqoob said.

"Sad to say I have been on the receiving end of serious death threats, some from extreme racists who've taken issue with me being a woman in politics and visibly Muslim.

"And also sad to say from some unrepresentative individuals within the Muslim community who have taken issue with the fact that I unapologetically advocate for an inclusive democracy with an emphasis on equality for all."

While Yaqoob said she was saddened by the incident, she added it was not going to deter her from speaking out on the issues that matter to her.

"My values are about standing up for justice, standing against inequality, whether it's about deprivation in Birmingham or about peace in the world," she said.

"And those are values that are deeply held and [so I] certainly won't be deterred from speaking up."

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