Two teenagers have been convicted after they entered a restaurant to pour petrol over customers and set them on fire. Two people were left in critical condition after the attack, which took place on August 22 last year at Indian Aroma, a restaurant in Gants Hill in East London. Both 17-year-old perpetrators cannot be named because of their age.

They were caught on CCTV at 7.07pm heading to Barkingside, where they parked a stolen Toyota Prius. Footage shows one of the teens getting out of the car and stealing several litres of petrol in canisters. They then drove to the restaurant armed with machetes.

One teenager, armed with a large machete, taunted innocent customers as his accomplice, also armed with a machete, stood ready with a taper and lighter while petrol was poured over the floor, furniture and people in the restaurant.

Once surfaces were doused, the teenager lit the taper which ignited a fireball that quickly ripped through the establishment.

Two people were left with critical burn injuries and multiple suffered severe injuries.

Before emergency crews arrived at the scene, the two teens drove off.

Immediately after the attack, detectives began to source footage which captured the suspects fleeing the scene, before piling into a nearby Toyota Prius.

After following the car through countless hours of CCTV, traffic cameras - and utilising data from ANPR records – investigators collated a chronological timeline of the incident, which showed the car travelling to and from Peckham that evening.

After leaving south London at 19:07hrs, the vehicle made its way to Barkingside, where CCTV showed it parking near a supermarket. One of the defendants left the vehicle and walked to a petrol station where he stole several litres of petrol by pouring it into cannisters.

They were arrested two weeks after the attack.

The jury heard that the pair were part of a group that set out to cause significant harm in Gants Hill, Ilford in August last year. The motive of the attack remains unclear.

Following the hearing, Det Insp Emma Sharp, who led the investigation, said that the attack "impacted dozens of innocent people".

Both teens faced a seven-week trial. They were found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon.

They have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on October 2.

Detective Inspector Emma Sharp said: "This group tried to outmanoeuvre the police and avoid the consequences of their premeditated violence, but today’s outcome showcases that our detectives can unravel multifaceted incidents to secure justice and take dangerous offenders off our streets.

"The August attack impacted dozens of innocent people, and I’d like to thank the victims and witnesses for their steadfast resilience since the incident, and throughout the trial."