UPDATE: Man arrested after council leader's car set on fire

OLDHAM Council leader Cllr Arooj Shah's car was "firebombed" in a shocking attack in the early hours of today.

Police were called to the Glodwick area just before 1.30am after reports of a vehicle on fire.

Emergency services arrived and firefighters put out out the blaze.

No-one was hurt in the incident but minor damage was caused to a nearby property.

Cllr Shah will not be commenting about the incident at the moment, the council has said.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed the fire is being treated as arson with detectives investigating.

It has not been confirmed if it was a targeted attack.

A force spokesman said: "Police were called just before 1:30am on Tuesday, July 13 to reports of a vehicle on fire in the Glodwick area in Oldham.

"Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended along with police, and it was established that the vehicle was deliberately ignited, also causing slight damage to a neighbouring property.

"The fire was extinguished, no-one was injured, and officers are investigating the circumstances."

Zia Ulhaq, who works at Eastern Catering, nearby to where the incident happened, is "shocked" and "outraged" after hearing about the attack.

He said: "I was worried about Arooj when I heard about the incident.

"She and her family are lovely people.

"I am shocked and outraged by this and very disappointed in humanity that someone could do something like this."

READ > Leaders react after Oldham Council leader Cllr Arooj Shah's car 'firebombed'

Fellow councillors have reacted to the incident.

Oldham's Liberal Democrats leader, Cllr Howard Sykes, described the the attack as "appalling and "frightening". 

He added that there has been an "abusive approach" in "too much of the politics in Oldham recently, and the UK".

Cllr Sykes said: "This is a time when we must stand together. 

"If you are a decent, fair-minded person, you must stand up against this appalling attack, and defend the values of our country – honesty, decency and fairness."

Conservative councillor for Royton North, Dave Arnott, said: “This looks like a very  disturbing incident, and I’m sure a great shock for Cllr Shah. 

"I am confident that Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will conduct a thorough investigation and then we will know more about the events that took place early this morning.”

If you have any information contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.