Australia
Melbourne schoolboy fighting for life after alleged car firebombing
A teenager is fighting for his life in hospital after sustaining severe burns during an alleged car firebombing in Melbourne's north-west.
A teenager is fighting for his life in hospital after sustaining severe burns to almost his entire body during an alleged car firebombing in Melbourne's north-west on Monday.
According to reporting by wire services, the schoolboy was engulfed in flames during the incident, which investigators suspect was an attempted arson attack that went wrong. The youth is reported to have suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body, leaving him in a critical condition.
The incident occurred on Monday in the city's north-western suburbs, though police have not yet released the specific street address or the exact time of the explosion. Emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, were called to the scene following reports of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, emergency responders located the teenager with catastrophic injuries.
Paramedics treated the teenager at the scene for severe thermal burns before transporting him to a specialist hospital unit. Medical staff are currently monitoring his condition, which remains highly critical.
At this stage, Victoria Police have not confirmed whether the teenager was acting alone or if other individuals were involved in the alleged arson attempt. It is also unclear what kind of vehicle was targeted, or what motivated the incident. Forensic officers are expected to examine the remains of the vehicle as part of their ongoing inquiries.
While authorities have begun a full investigation into the fire, no charges have been laid, and police have not announced any arrests in connection with the case.
Watch for further updates from Victoria Police as arson squad detectives continue their investigation into the cause of the fire.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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