A fireball lit up the forecourt of a filling station when an arsonist poured petrol onto the ground next to a pump and set it alight.
The arsonist pulled out a nozzle from the unleaded pump and squeezed the trigger for several seconds before pulling a lighter from his coat pocket and setting the puddle of fuel ablaze.
The footage shows terrified customers rush for cover as it burst into flame.
Police today released CCTV of the attack on a BP station in Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, at 6.30am on September 30 in an attempt to trace the arsonist.
He was caught in the blast before jumping back and fleeing over the road into Greenwich Park Street.
As the flames raged, a brave customer wearing shorts and a hoodie grabbed a fire extinguisher and blasted the blaze with foam before it could spread.
Greenwich CID officer Detective Constable Karl Buckwell said: “This was an incredibly dangerous and reckless thing to do - there were cars and people filling up in the petrol station. The petrol station is surrounded by flats and is located on a very busy road.
“We believe that the person seen setting the fire in the footage would have been caught in it and may have burnt his eyebrows as well as his hair. Anyone who knows his identity should get in touch with police as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information should call DC Buckwell, Greenwich CID on 0208 284 9416 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
