Homeless man set on fire in Birmingham: Police hunt attacker after incident near Hockley Hill & Boulton Middleway

A rough sleeper has been seriously injured after being set on fire by an unidentified man as he slept in an underpass. The homeless man, aged in his 30s, suffered potentially life-changing injuries to his hands and face after his bedding was set alight and piled on top of him in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said the "shocking" attack happened just after 9.20am last Tuesday on November 7, near Hockley Hill and Boulton Middleway. The force has now released a grainy image of an e-scooter rider they are trying to trace while the victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.

A police spokesperson said: "We want to talk to anyone in the area at the time, especially a man who was riding on an electric scooter. We know this image isn't very clear, and we are working to find further CCTV opportunities, but we hope that this image may prompt someone to come forward with information. The man is described as white, 5ft 5in, and wearing a white vest, white hoody, black gloves, grey jogging bottoms, black shoes and wearing chains."

Anyone with information is asked to get in touch via Live Chat online or call 101, quoting crime reference 20/972160/23. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.