Arsonist jailed after being caught on camera starting a blaze that caused half a million pounds of damage

A restaurant owner who was victim to an arson attack said he felt that his life had been taken away, after a blaze destroyed part of his restaurant last year.

Alvise Dal Mas’s restaurant, Salotto 31 wine bar and restaurant, was set alight on 12 June 2025, causing £411,500 worth of damage.

In the victim impact statement Alvise gave last year, he said it hadn’t been an easy time for him, his family or the staff and after the fire he couldn’t sleep and would worry all the time.

After a trial at Inner London Crown Court, Ahmed Kawa, 35, of not fixed abode, was found guilty of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered when he started the fire on Lovat Lane.

He has been sentenced to five years in prison.

CCTV footage captured the moment Kawa used a lighter to set fire to a bag of rubbish, before walking away. Minutes later, the fire caught on to outside tables and chairs, which soon erupted into flames.

The inferno smashed the windows of the building and then it spread inside the restaurant; incinerating furniture, electrical equipment and decorations. The heat of the fire also ruined bottles of wine and spirits.

Kawa’s image from the CCTV was shared across the force, triggering a coordinated response to find him. Plain‑clothed officers and dedicated ward officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team hit the ground, engaging directly with the homeless community.

Working with a local charity, who identified Kawa and his whereabouts, officers moved in to arrest him.

This proactive policing, combined with on-the-ground intelligence and CCTV, stopped Kawa before he could target another business, protecting livelihoods and the wider community.

The City of London  CCTV network remains one of the most advanced policing assets in the country, allowing officers and control room staff to track suspects in real time, direct resources immediately and protect businesses, workers and the public.

City of London Police are one of the few forces where scenes of crimes officers go to every incident where forensics can be recovered.

“This business is something I am proud to own. I worked really hard to get to where I am and to get the businesses to where it is… This is not just a business to me; it is like a home. It is my whole life and has my whole life inside,” Alvise said in his statement.

Alvise was finally able to reopen his restaurant in December 2025.

The Antiquarian Horological Society was also damaged in the fire, with the blaze causing £76,597 worth of damage.

Detective Constable Eleanor Gill, at the City of London Police’s Criminal Investigations Department, said:

“This dangerous act committed by Kawa could have been even worse and it was a miracle no one was seriously injured.

“Kawa deliberately started a fire and walked away, showing absolutely no regard for the safety of others. The City’s CCTV network enabled us to identify the offender, track his movements and show him committing his crime on camera.

“We’re committed to working with and protecting local businesses and supporting those affected by crime during our enquiries to quickly identify suspects and bring them to justice.”

During the trial, the judge noted that the fire occurred near the origin of the Great Fire of London in 1666. Kawa was sentenced just two months before the 360th anniversary of the blaze which tore through the City.

Kawa was spotted on CCTV walking down Pudding Lane and drinking from the water fountain at the Monument, which commemorates the historic fire.

Safer City Streets is the City of London Police’s commitment to keeping the Square Mile one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit.

By combining highly visible neighbourhood policing, intelligence-led hotspot patrols, cutting-edge technology and strong partnerships with businesses and communities, we are preventing crime, targeting prolific offenders and delivering safer, more welcoming streets.

From tackling phone snatching and retail crime, to reducing violence and anti-social behaviour, Safer City Streets is about making people feel safe as well as being safe throughout the City.