Man convicted of fire-bombing hotel housing migrants in Islington

5 News pairs CCTV of the attack with arrest and interview footage following Mark Neville's guilty plea.

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5 News Story of October 30, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 172,821 views a day, 35 times a normal first day on this channel (4,924).

Man, 65, fire-bombed migrant hotel in attack 'designed to terrify' occupants | 5 News

CCTV records the attack. A masked man dressed in black lights an incendiary device and throws it over the gate of the Thistle City Barbican hotel, which was housing migrants.

The footage opens a 5 News Short about Mark Neville's conviction. Neville pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 28 to attempted arson being reckless as to endanger life, along with weapons charges. The attack took place in September last year.

Police described the attack as motivated by hatred and anger at immigration. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley said it was designed to terrify residents and the local community, and could easily have caused horrific injuries.

The clip moves from CCTV to police bodycam footage of Neville's arrest, then to an interview. An investigator questions him about accelerant found on a leather glove and its apparent connection to the incendiary device. Neville repeatedly answers, "No comment."

The report drew roughly 120,000 views in its first 12 hours, an unusually fast start for a 5 News Short. A separate report covering evidence in a train-stabbing trial also attracted an unusually large audience on the channel.

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