Mark Neville, 65, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 28 after pleading guilty to attempted arson being reckless as to endanger life, possession of a bladed article, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The attack took place on September 24, 2025, at a migrant hotel close to his home in Islington.
CCTV footage captured Neville dressed in all black approaching the hotel on Dingley Road at around 10.53pm. The video shows him lighting a petrol bomb in a nearby doorway before throwing it over the gate. A large flash erupted from the entrance as the flaming projectile ignited. Security guards at the hotel quickly extinguished the fire, and nobody was injured.
After the attack, Neville was recorded on CCTV discarding a pair of gloves he had used to commit the crime. Met Police officers reviewed hundreds of hours of footage to track him from the scene to his flat and obtain a clear photograph of the suspect.
The investigation involved the local community and a forensic fire dog named Simba, who discovered a glove containing Neville’s DNA close to the hotel. Glass fragments from the petrol bomb were also linked to his DNA through forensic analysis.
Neville was arrested two days after the attack and charged with arson with intent to endanger life, criminal damage, and other offences. Searches of his flat revealed internet searches on far-right activism and asylum seekers. During a police interview, Neville said his friends often sent him articles about immigration and that he had attended marches related to the issue, including one outside the targeted hotel.
He initially denied involvement, claiming he had been visiting a friend diagnosed with dementia. However, after officers presented overwhelming evidence from the investigation, he admitted guilt and pleaded guilty in court.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley, whose team led the investigation, said: “Neville fire-bombed a hotel in an attack that was designed to terrify residents and the local community. His actions could easily have caused horrific injuries.”
Ridley added: “We remain resolute in our determination to protect Londoners and relentlessly pursue those who seek to cause fear and harm, bringing serious offenders to justice.”
The hotel in Islington is no longer being used to house migrants.
