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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Michelle Cullen

Woman, 20s, dies after being set on fire on packed bus in ‘hate crime’ attack

A young woman has died after she was set on fire while on a packed bus.

The 20-year-old is believed to have been killed in a suspected hate crime.

Police have launched a murder investigation after another passenger attacked the woman while travelling to work in Toronto, Canada.

Read more: Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after more than 50 quit UK government

Officers allege a man poured a liquid over her shortly after midday on June 17 before setting her alight.

The attacker then fled the scene as others on the bus rushed to extinguish the blaze and help the woman, who worked as a carer.

She was rushed to hospital in critical condition with "life-altering" second and third-degree burns.

A 33-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident.

Officer Alex Li said: "The man was alleged to have poured some type of liquid substance or an accelerant on this woman and then ignited that substance, causing a fire and causing the female victim to burn."

The man, Tenzin Norbu, was charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, common nuisance endangering the lives, safety or health of the public, and mischief of almost €5,000 interfering with property.

Tragically, the woman died this week as a result of her injuries.

Police say Norbu's charges will now be updated following her death.

Cops have described the attack as "random" and an "isolated incident" but said, "the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence".

Following the harrowing incident, the victim's sister, Dawa, launched a fundraising page, saying her sibling had suffered "full thickness burns, is in critical condition, and under life support".

Dawa said her sister was one the way to work "as a professional caregiver when she was attacked by a stranger who threw lighter fluid on her and set her on fire."

She added: "My sister is a caregiver who has lived a life of service to others.

"At this point, we really need support from all of you on her long journey ahead."

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