{
  "id": 12739858,
  "title": "Critically injured 13-year-old got firebombing order on WhatsApp",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/critically-injured-13-year-old-got-firebombing-order-on-whatsapp",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T23:55:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-08/taylors-hill-firebombing-teen-took-orders-middlemen/107241702"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday morning, in Melbourne's north-west, a firebombing attack occurred at a residence in Taylors Hill. Two cars were set ablaze, and a 13-year-old boy suffered severe burns to his upper and lower body, keeping him in critical condition. The incident is believed to have been orchestrated by a group of young individuals who received their orders through the WhatsApp messaging app. According to the ABC, police will utilize phone data to investigate the car fire. The three individuals involved were allegedly instructed by middlemen using aliases on WhatsApp regarding the target address. After setting the cars on fire, the trio attempted to flee the scene in a stolen vehicle but crashed it shortly thereafter, leaving the boy behind. Friends of the teenager, who attends a secondary school in Melbourne's northern suburbs, have expressed their concern for his survival, describing him as a caring, loyal, and humorous individual who brought joy to those around him. This is not the first occurrence of such violent acts in Melbourne, with multiple arson incidents across the city in recent days, including one involving a man in his 20s who sustained life-altering burns while attempting to torch a Melton tobacconist.",
  "summary": "The teenager is fighting for life after being engulfed in flames during the arson attack in Melbourne's north-west on Monday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}