Gosnells assault: Police hunt man with swastika on forehead over racially motivated flamethrower attack
Phil Hickey
PerthNow
February 23, 2021 6:18PM
Police are treating a shocking flamethrower attack on an Indigenous woman and her daughter in Gosnells on Saturday as a racially motivated assault.
Detectives today released a composite image of the attacker, who had a white Swastika painted backwards on his forehead.
The attack happened about 6.20pm as the 40-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter were walking along Corfield Street, between Verna Street and the Corfield Shopping Centre.
Police say the man in question hurled racial abuse at the pair before using a deodorant can and a lighter to spray towards them.
Police are investigating an assault in Gosnells.
Police are investigating an assault in Gosnells. Credit: WA Police/WA Police
Incredibly the woman only sustained minor burns to her arm.
The man fled the area on foot.
Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Bell, of the State Security Investigation Group, said police were treating the attack as racially motivated. He said the offence was ?atrocious.?
Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Bell of State Security Investigation Group with a composite image of the man they're chasing.
Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Bell of State Security Investigation Group with a composite image of the man they're chasing. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian
?We are treating this as a random and cowardly attack on two people simply going about their daily business,? he said.
?Someone out there knows who this man is.?