This is the terrifying moment two masked men launched an explosive firework into a busy chicken restaurant as customers huddled to protect themselves from its sparks, writes Laurence Dollimore.

The fireworks were thrown by two masked men into the kitchen and lobby of Chicken Cottage in Wimbledon, on Thursday night.

Merton police have admitted today that they "haven’t provided the service they would expect" following a firework attack after complaints from the business owners officers did not turn up straight away when called. 

Asian Image:

On the left, employee Saqib Fayyaz and Zaheerullah Jan, store owner

The police were called immediately and said they would bring officers within an hour, but to the shock of store owner Zaheerullah Jan, 70, nobody came. 

When Mr Jan called the police back at 11.20pm he was originally told that there was no record of his report. He was then informed that it had been downgraded and informed that because the attack was a ‘drive-by’ it would not require an immediate visit. 

Mr Jan said: "They finally came on Sunday. I have evidence and witnesses and the car registration number and everything, but the police were just laughing like it's not anything serious.

"They burnt my carpet, they burnt my chairs, the place was full of customers. The restaurant was completely black, full of smoke. 

"The police don't care. They don't want to know."

He added: "I have been in this area for the last 25 years. I have never had anything like this before. 

"The police response is very bad. I'm sorry but I feel very strongly and sad. They were laughing on Sunday like it was a joke."

Speaking on Monday, November 2, Superintendent Steve Wallace, admitted that the police did not respond well enough to the incident. 

He said: "My assessment is that we haven’t provided the service we would expect. I’m looking into why the call was re-graded.

"The investigation is being reviewed, and an apology will be offered if needed. We will be accelerating the case today."

Twitter users expressed shock at the lack of reaction from the police to the Chicken Cottage incident. On Monday, Spt Steve Wallace also ran a Twitter poll asking users who had needed the police in the last two years if they felt they had been effectively updated. 

Of the 34 votes cast, 65 per cent felt they had been updated effectively, and 35 per cent did not.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Twitter Poll - If you needed Merton Police in last 2 years for an incident /crime - Did we effectively update you?</p>— Supt Steve Wallace (@MPSSuptWallace) <a href="https://twitter.com/MPSSuptWallace/status/660732524570812416">November 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "As the suspects had left the scene, the call grading was changed to an E grade, which requires that police attend the scene within 72 hours of receiving a call."

"Every call made to police is assessed, based on a number of criteria and given the relevant grading.

"The grading may change as relevant information becomes clear."

Employee Saqib Fayyaz, 30, witnessed the attack while he was serving customers, including a family with children, just before 6.30pm.

He said: “It was a huge blast and steam filled up the lobby, especially because it's quite small.

“The fireworks left black stuff everywhere."

The attackers used an unknown firework in the kitchen, but threw a ‘fountain’ firework through the entrance, which shot out orange sparks and bundles of thick steam.

While the men drove off towards Wandsworth, the customers ran out the Wimbledon chain, which opened in July.

Mr Fayyaz said several of them were struggling to breathe at first, but no one was injured.

The owner's son Faraz Jan, 31, said staff had noticed a group playing with fireworks on Gordondale Road, but had thought nothing of it.

He has had to replace the door mat which had a hole burnt through it, and said it was lucky none of the staff or 10 customers were hurt.

Were you in Chicken Cottage? Do you know who threw the firework? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6336 or email newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk