Man charged after police officers and firefighter 'set alight'

Police were called to Oxford Street in the early hours of Sunday

A man has been charged with six counts of attempted murder after five police officers and a firefighter were "set alight" in Leicester.

Police said a liquid, believed to be petrol, was thrown at six officers and a firefighter in Oxford Street in the early hours of Sunday.

Five officers and the firefighter were subsequently "set alight", but the flames were quickly extinguished with no-one injured, the force added.

Ako Faraji appeared in court earlier.

The 27-year-old, of Oxford Street, has also been charged with arson with intent to endanger life, one count of an offence under Section 24 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 - maliciously administering with a noxious substance intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy any other person and one count of theft.

Leicestershire Police said the theft charge related to a reported offence at a business premises in Wharf Street South, Leicester, on Saturday.

On Monday, Mr Faraji appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded into custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on 25 March.