Police appeal for witnesses after woman, 80, set alight outside Watford flat

The family of Brenda Raymond, 80, who was found on fire outside her home in Watford, have made a public plea for witnesses. She remains in a critical condition in hospital, and Hertfordshire Police are treating the attack as attempted murder, according to the BBC.

Her relatives said they were in complete shock and “desperate for answers”. Police have asked anyone with information, however small it may seem, to come forward and to quote Operation Tibbin.

Key facts about the Watford attack

Who: Brenda Raymond, 80, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Where: a communal area of a block of flats on Caractacus Cottage View, Watford, which Metro described as a first-floor space.
When: Monday 9 November, with police called at 12.47pm, according to the Evening Standard.
Police response: the case is being investigated as attempted murder under Operation Tibbin.
Arrest: a 33-year-old man from Watford was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life and has been released on bail.
How to help: call 101, use the force's online portal or web chat, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

What happened on Monday

Ms Raymond was attacked as she returned to her home, according to her family and police. The Guardian said this was at around noon, while Metro put it just after midday. The Evening Standard reported that police were called at 12.47pm.

Officers believe a flammable liquid was used on her before she was set alight. The Evening Standard and Metro reported that police think it was sprayed on her, while the Guardian said detectives believe it was poured. She was found alight in the communal area and taken to a nearby hospital, where she remains critically ill.

Hertfordshire Police have said she suffered injuries they described as catastrophic. Detective Inspector Adam Bridges, of the major crime unit, called it an appalling and deeply distressing attack on an elderly woman outside her own home, and described the incident as highly unusual.

A second incident at a nearby flat

Detectives have said an accelerant was also poured through the letterbox of a nearby flat. Metro explained that an accelerant is a substance used to start a fire.

The Guardian reported that police have not officially linked the two events. None of the sources says investigators have established a link.

The arrest and bail

A 33-year-old man from Watford was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. The BBC reported that police bailed him with strict conditions while inquiries continue.

Detectives are treating the wider case as attempted murder. No one has been reported as charged.

How police named the victim

Earlier in the week, police publicly named Ms Raymond in an attempt to trace whoever was behind the attack. The Guardian reported that the decision was taken by police with the blessing of her family on Wednesday, in the hope that someone with knowledge of the incident would come forward.

DI Bridges said the family had released her name and photograph to help jog people's memories about what he called a distressing and highly unusual incident.

What the family say

In a statement issued through the force on Saturday, Ms Raymond's family said the past few days had been distressing beyond words. They described her as beautiful, chatty, fun-loving and much loved, someone who likes to keep fit and enjoys dancing.

They said they simply could not understand why anyone would want to hurt her in this way. The family said the circumstances had left them all in complete shock, and they asked for their privacy to be respected during an unimaginably difficult time.

Their message to the public was direct. “Someone out there knows something,” they said, adding that anyone who knows anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, should speak to police or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

What the police are asking for

Police have appealed for people to get in touch if they know of anyone who bought flammable liquid on or shortly before 9 November. They also want to hear from anyone who has camera footage covering the area around Caractacus Cottage View on Monday, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously.

DI Bridges said people may have witnessed suspicious activity, heard a conversation, noticed unusual behaviour, or captured something on CCTV or dashcam footage without realising its significance. He urged people not to assume that what they know is too small or unimportant, saying it could be the breakthrough investigators need.

The force asked people to use its dedicated online portal, the non-emergency number 101 or web chat, quoting Operation Tibbin. Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.

What this means for people in Watford

For residents of Caractacus Cottage View and the surrounding streets, the practical impact is the police request for help. Footage from home cameras, doorbells or vehicles covering the area on Monday could matter to the inquiry, as could anything seen or heard that day, even if it seemed trivial at the time.

The attack has also had an impact on the wider town. Watford MP Matt Turmaine said the whole town had been appalled and outraged by a horrific and vile attack, and that his thoughts were with Ms Raymond and her family. A neighbour, quoted earlier in the week by the BBC, described her as a lovely woman.

Officers have been supporting her family, according to the BBC. People who want to share information without giving their name can do so through Crimestoppers.

What happens next

The investigation is continuing. The 33-year-old arrested man remains on bail with strict conditions while inquiries continue. No charges have been announced in the sources, and police have not said what the motive for the attack may have been. Ms Raymond's family say they are still waiting for answers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Brenda Raymond?

Brenda Raymond is an 80-year-old woman from Watford who was found alight outside her flat on Caractacus Cottage View on Monday. Her family describe her as chatty and fun-loving, someone who likes to keep fit and enjoys dancing.

Has anyone been charged over the Watford attack?

No charge has been reported. A 33-year-old man from Watford was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life and has been released on bail with strict conditions while inquiries continue.

How can I give police information about the attack?

Contact Hertfordshire Police through its online portal or web chat, or call 101, quoting Operation Tibbin. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

What does the family want people to do?

The family are pleading for anyone with information to come forward, however insignificant it may seem. They have also asked for their privacy to be respected.

Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News, Evening Standard, The Guardian, Metro

Cover photo: David Howard / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

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