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The 21-year-old attacker wreaked havoc at the Melbourne bank when he lit the petrol bottle which subsequently exploded. Witnesses described horrific burns and people on fire as 26 victims were hospitalised including a toddler and an 80-year-old elderly man. The perpetrator has now been identified as an asylum seeker who arrived in Australia three years ago by boat from Myanmar.

ABC The 21-year-old attacker wreaked havoc at the Melbourne bank

He lit himself on fire using the burning petrol, as flames ripped through the bank in Melbourne, one of Australia's major cities. The unnamed man ran from the bank with horrific burns and was found cowering and badly burnt in a nearby alley. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, as the attack took place next to a primary school and near one of Melbourne's busiest train stations.

This guy just came into the bank and poured petrol and started lighting up. I’m so lucky I got out Tran Phan, a local trader at the bank

Ashley Atkin-Fone, who found the attacker, said: "He was a mess, he had his skin ripped off. "There was no way he was going to get away. He was in shock." He is now under police guard at a local hospital while two of his victims remain in a critical state. Tran Phan, a local trader at the bank said: “This guy just came into the bank and poured petrol and started lighting up. I’m so lucky I got out.” A businesswoman at a store across the road described the aftermath as ­“horrifying”. She said: "One man was crying, screaming, “Why me? Why me?"

AUSTRALIAN Flames ripped through the bank in Australia

AUSTRALIAN 26 victims were hospitalised including a toddler and an 80-year-old elderly man