A family have spoken of their terror after their house was fire-bombed in what they believe was a 'racially motivated attack'.
Frightening footage shows a masked person smashing a window and throwing a lit firebomb through the front window of a house in Eastgrove Avenue, Sharples - creating a huge fireball.
Police confirmed they have launched an arson investigation, with more details to be issued shortly.
Emergency services were called and the family escaped injury.
Owner Hassan Patel said: "I wasn't at home, but my son took the bins outside, and he saw two guys on a motorbike going up. And then when he came inside, everybody heard a big bang. My son was literally near the entrance.
"And when he heard the big bang, my wife, my kids, they were in the kitchen. They thought that my daughters had fallen upstairs, so they quickly ran. But then my son's shouting, 'everybody get out, get out, there's a fire.'"
Mr Patel said nobody in the house was able to sleep after the incident, which the family believe was a hate crime.
The fire broke out below his son’s room.
Mr Patel came home to find his family in shock and frightened for any future attacks.
Mr Patel is also a local Imam at a mosque.
Umair Yusuf, his son, said: "It's become unfortunate that in this day and age, 2026 we're living in, as Muslims, people of ethnic minorities, it's become a time where we are scared, with just wandering into the streets.
"Today we got attacked in our own homes, we've been attacked in our own mosques.
"These are places where we feel at home, where we're meant to feel safe."
Mr Patel added: "It was shocking.
"Everybody was shaken, obviously.
"But what it is, what's happening around the world at this moment in time, I don't know.”
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “Just after 9.15pm on Wednesday June 10, fire crews from Bolton North and Farnworth attended a house fire on Eastgrove Avenue, Bolton.
“Crews arrived quickly and worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe. No casualties were reported.
“Firefighters departed after approximately an hour and a half.”
Some residents believe this was a “racially” motivated attack.
One neighbour said: "I saw fire and I came out to see what happened there were a lot of people around there police and everything.
"You could definitely see the family was shook up- and it was cordoned off so we were just waiting to see what police were doing.
"Not at all usual that’s the biggest shock. It’s the first time ever something like this happened here.
"This neighbourhood is quiet and safe you don’t hear about all this.
"It was a shock for all of us biggest worry for us as well with everything going on around the country it was to do with that.
"The police were very good and very supportive, and I feel like the neighbourhood were very supportive, a few people gathered outside which shows the unity of the area, providing moral support."
Another resident added: "I don’t understand what it is. Nothing has ever happened like this it’s just strange.
"A lot of people were about supporting. It came as a shock to me.”
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