The man suspected of firebombing a Dover migrant centre died due to asphyxiation, an inquest has heard.
Andrew Leak, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, threw two to three homemade incendiary devices at the migrant centre at Western Jet Foil in Dover, Kent on October 30.
The 66-year-old was found dead eight minutes after the attack in the car park of a nearby BP petrol station.
An inquest into his death was opened at Maidstone's County Hall this morning by coroner Bina Patel.
She confirmed Kent Police was called to Western Jet Foil at 11.22am on October 30 and Leak was found deceased at the petrol station on Limekiln Road at 11.30am. Paramedics confirmed his death at 11.48am.
Leak, who was single and unemployed, was found in the driver’s seat of his white Seat car.
The inquest was adjourned until the provisional date of January 27 next year.
After initially being discounted as a terrorist incident by Kent Police and the Home Office, the investigation was taken over by counter-terrorism police last Tuesday and was officially designated a terror attack on Saturday.
Facebook posts on a now-deleted account under the name of an Andy Leak from High Wycombe contain anti-Muslim sentiments and complaints about people claiming benefits if they do not speak English.
One, shared on August 9, said: “The next time the job centre sanctions your money for not looking for enough work ask them about the thousands of people getting benefits cannot speak English and can not write English, how are they looking for work?
“Unemployment benefits clearly state you cannot claim benefits if not looking for work, all of these people should be excluded from benefits.
“You can clearly not look for work if you cannot read English or speak English, they are breaking the law, time to stand up.”
Another post, on July 24, said: “All Muslims are guilty of grooming, they never spoke out because it wasn’t their daughters, f****** animals wake up.
“They only rape non-Muslims that’s a religious hate crime are you f****** stupid.”
In the incident on October 30, two members of staff at the centre were left with minor injuries after police were called at 11.22am.
Afterwards, 700 people were moved to Manston asylum processing centre near Ramsgate for safety reasons.
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
