A woman was burned after a Molotov cocktail exploded on the porch where she was sitting at Mona Vale.
Just after 10.30pm last night (Sunday, 03 November), emergency services responded to a report of a fire and a woman injured after a petrol filled projectile was hurled at a house at Harkeith Street, Mona Vale.
The projectile sent petrol and flames through the front porch of the single-storey weatherboard cottage, where the 45-year-old woman had been sitting outside on a couch under a veranda.
The woman received burns to her arms and face but was able to quickly extinguish the fire using a garden hose.
Scorch marks were visible on the exterior wall cladding of the home, and some plastic roofing material on the veranda melted, where the projectile appears to have landed on the roof before burning through (image below).
The incident occurred only a few doors down from Mona Vale Fire Station and shocked firefighters rushed to the home on foot as the woman extinguished the flames.
As they began first aid treatment for her burns, taking her to a shower for active cooling, they requested the urgent attendance of NSW Police and NSW Ambulance.
Three units from Northern Beaches Police Area Command and two NSW Ambulance crews, including Intensive Care Paramedics, attended the scene.
Paramedics continued to cool burns to the woman’s arms, shoulder and face, before walking her to a stretcher and placing her into an Intensive Care ambulance.
She was given further treatment, including burn dressings and pain relief, and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition shortly after 11.00pm.
The woman was able to speak to police and describe the attack before she was taken to hospital.
The property at Harkeith Street is in an industrial zone at Mona Vale, close to The Mona Vale Hotel and Pittwater Place Shopping Centre.
Fire and Rescue NSW Mona Vale Station is on the same street, which allowed firefighters to be first on scene. They did not even pull their truck out of the station.
The premises involved is understood to be known to police, leading to speculation the incident may have been a targeted attack.
At this stage, NSW Police have only confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, and last night officers were seen establishing a crime scene and searching the vicinity.
NSW Police have requested public assistance to help identify the persons responsible for the attack, asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Images: Northern Beaches Advocate
Hold up!
There is an updated version of this article with more up to date information.
NSW Police are seeking public assistance in relation to this matter. If you have any information that may assist them with their inquiries, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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