Judge Michael Grieve KC handed down the 10-year sentences on Friday, labeling the August 22, 2025, attack as a "sophisticated and professional operation" executed with "cold blood." The two 17-year-old defendants, who remain anonymous due to their age, were found guilty by a jury after a seven-week trial that concluded earlier this year. They pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and possession of a bladed article, but the evidence held up in the courtroom.
The chaos began when the pair, along with a third masked accomplice, stormed Indian Aroma in London. They brandished long knives and swords, ordering customers to stay seated while the third individual doused tables, chairs, and the floor in petrol. The attackers held the door shut, trapping the diners inside as one lit a taper. The resulting fireball consumed the room, leaving victims with catastrophic injuries.
The human cost was devastating. A young woman in her 20s suffered 50% burns that melted her clothes onto her skin, forcing doctors to place her in a medically induced coma. Her husband, who managed to escape the burning building, sustained 51% burns. He told the court he "woke up 45 days after being burnt," a detail that underscored the severity of the trauma inflicted on the family.
Despite the brutality, the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Judge Grieve expressed no doubt that the teenagers were acting on the direction of an "older and more experienced criminal" who has yet to be identified. This gap in the investigation leaves a significant question mark over the broader network that facilitated the attack.
Police are continuing their pursuit of the unidentified mastermind. Meanwhile, the two convicted teenagers will begin serving their 10-year sentences, while the victims begin the long road to physical and psychological recovery from their severe burns.