THIS is the moment a pair of yobs turn a gym into a raging inferno after pouring petrol on the floor.
CCTV footage of the incident shows two men breaking into The Atrium Club gym in Reading on January 30.
Two thugs broke into The Atrium Health Club on January 30 holding a jerry canCredit: The Atrium / SWNS
The duo poured petrol across the gym floor before setting it ablazeCredit: The Atrium / SWNS
Police are searching for the suspects and are appealing for anyone with information to contact themCredit: The Atrium / SWNS
One of the men entered through the broken door and stormed into the main gym room holding a jerry can.
The hooded yob then ran around the gym drenching the floor with petrol before it is set ablaze.
The two men escaped out through the way they entered as the building turned into a raging inferno.
The “devastating” attack left the gym equipment and room destroyed and covered in black burn marks.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to put out the raging inferno with Thames Valley still searching for the suspects.
Just three weeks after the incident, locals got together and began rebuilding the facility.
Gym director Josh Baines said: “It’s really difficult not to know who or why. The fire was started in the main gym. They poured petrol on the floor.
“All of the gym was fire or smoke damaged – everything. We had to build from scratch again.
“After the four-day emergency clean, we were like, ‘Let’s get this gym back open as quickly as we possibly can’.
“All the worked tirelessly; we didn’t have to cook a meal for three weeks – people sent us takeaways and home-cooked food.
“We invited all of our members and guests to help rebuild the gym. We didn’t know what response we would get.
“We had over 150 people: people were queuing up to help. There were more people than paintbrushes!
“It’s remarkable. It was just stunning, what we saw. It made a really traumatic time a fun and memorable one.
“The restoration, that should have taken three months, took three weeks.
“A three-year-old brought in 50p and put it towards the refurb.
“One of our autistic helpers, Alfie, sent us a message offering us all of his .
“We didn’t take it, but we were very grateful for the offer.
“Someone came in on their 30th birthday to help for four hours.
“The way it brought people together… We will remember that forever.”
The Atrium Health Club in Reading, Berks, was built in 2021 by Josh Baines with his school and church friends.
The has since grown to host a thousand members and provided a health hub to the local community.
But just 22 days after two yobs broke into the premises and set it ablaze, the director, alongside the community, was able to rebuild the gym.
The gym was given a new makeover and reopened on February 21.
Police have released CCTV footage of the suspects and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 43260048460.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Johanna Grant said: “I am appealing to anyone who recognises the people in these images to please come forward as we believe they may have vital information to assist our .
“I appreciate that the quality is low but if this is you, or if you think you know who these people are, please get in touch.
“I am also appealing to anyone with any other information that could assist us. Please call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting reference number 43260048460.”
The director of the community gym described the unprovoked attack as ‘devastating’Credit: The Atrium / SWNS
The gym reopened 22 days after the incident following support from the local communityCredit: The Atrium / SWNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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