Kings Heath street plagued by arson attacks.

Apr 30 2010 by Paul Suart, Birmingham Mail

TERRIFIED residents in a Birmingham street claim they are too frightened to sleep after a spate of night-time arson attacks.

The attacks on cars parked in Westfield Road, Kings Heath, began a fortnight ago.

Firebugs have struck a total of six times, with the latest two attacks early yesterday.

Four people have been arrested on suspicion of arson and were last night being quizzed by police.

A resident, whose father’s car was set alight in one of the most recent attacks, said: “Everybody’s on alert now – nobody in the street sleeps anymore.

“We’ve lived here for years and never had any trouble before.”

Mum-of-two Sumaiyah Memi said she was worried for her children.

“The next step they could take is throwing a petrol bomb through someone’s window. It’s a quiet street and everyone is respectful in their own homes, but in the last few weeks we’ve been living in hell.”

Firefighters were called at about 12.30am to tackle the first car fire and then returned three hours later just in time to prevent the second car from exploding after neighbours heard several small bangs. Father-of-three Majti Hussain said: “It’s shameful. If it was my car then I couldn’t carry on working, bringing my kids to school and carrying on with life.”

Another Westfield Road resident, who asked not to be named, said she heard people swearing in the street immediately before the first attack.

The 33-year-old mum-of-three said: “It’s really frightening.

“We’ve been here two years and never felt unsafe until the last few weeks.

“When people are happy to set fire to people’s property, what’s to stop them from setting fire to a house next?”

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Police responded to a call about cars being set on fire in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“Four males in their 20s were arrested in the nearby area on suspicion of arson and all are helping police with inquiries.”