VIDEO: Car torched and petrol bomb thrown into Blackburn house in suspected honour-based attack

Neighbours in the Blackburn street reported being woken in the middle of the night by men shouting outside their homes, before seeing the Vauxhall Astra burst into flames.

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Police called to Leamington Road then found an unlit bottle containing petrol which had been thrown into the house.

Officers called fire crews who put out the car blaze.

Detectives launched an investigation and three men aged 34, 25 and 23, all from Blackburn, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. They were in police custody yesterday.

Officers cordoned off the street while crime scene investigators, in white suits and masks, scoured the area after the attack at 2.10am yesterday. (wed) A petrol container could be seen in the middle of the road near to the car. Its tyres and paintwork had melted because of the heat.

Neighbours described how they saw flames coming from the green Astra.

One said: “There was a lot of noise and I could hear banging.

“I looked out of the window and saw the car in flames, with the fire engine right next to it.

“It is really scary because it was right on the doorstep.”

Syed Mehtab Ali, who lives only a few doors away from where the attack happened, said it was terrifying to think the incident was in a street where lots of children lived.

The 58-year-old father-of-three said: “I cannot believe this has happened.

“I was sleeping, but my wife said she woke up early in the morning before going to work and said there were a lot of police.

“I have lived here for about 15 years and it is a nice area that’s usually quiet. Usually there is no trouble around here.”

Mr Ali said he understood the house where the suspected arson happened had been empty for several years, but that building and renovation work had been finished around two weeks ago, when new tenants moved in.

It is understood the victim lived there with a man and children, but the arrangement had caused problems with some members of her family.

A police spokeswoman said it was part of their investigation that the blaze could have been an honour-based violence attack.

She said: “The investigation is in its early stages and we will be looking at whether that has happened.

“We can confirm that an accelerant was used.”

Coun Arshid Mahmood, who represents the Corporation Park ward, said: “It is shocking that this could happen near where I live and work.

“I am sure any disputes or any issues that any family has can be solved by sitting and talking. But if it is true this was an honour-based attack, this is absolutely not the way to deal with it.

“I hope that everyone involved is ok.”

Crew manager John Riley, from Blackburn Fire Station, said: “We attended a deliberate car fire in Leamington Road.

“It was an arson attack on the car. The police sealed the road off and a crime scene was put up.

“The car was destroyed.”

Anybody with information about the attack should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.