TikTok stars the Smithy family say they have been victims of arson attack
EXCLUSIVE: Shocking moment TikTok stars The Smithy Family’s car is set ablaze in terrifying arson attack that they tell their 2.5million followers ‘could have killed us all’
- Camera phone footage shows the car on fire in Smithy family’s driveway
- Flammable liquid was poured inside the car before being set ablaze
- Attack took place at the family home in Welling, south-east London, last night
- Smithy Family earlier shared footage of aftermath of blaze
- Father Nick Smith told viewers that ‘two people’ were responsible for the fire
- London Fire Brigade said 20 firefighters rushed to the scene last night
This is the shocking moment two suspects flee just seconds after setting a TikTok family’s car alight, which then exploded into flames and destroyed their home.
The yobs were caught on a neighbour’s security camera running down the street towards a railway bridge after they had targeted social media stars The Smithy Family, at their home in Welling, south-east London, last night.
One of the thugs poured petrol or another flammable liquid into the family’s 2017 Ford S-Max car while the other filmed on his mobile phone as it was set on fire.
The arsonist who poured in the petrol set part of his sleeve alight as he did so.
Shocking camera phone footage – obtained by MailOnline – shows the family’s car on fire on their driveway as mini-explosions can be heard.
Separate footage shows the moment the yobs set fire to the car. One of the thugs was seen trying to douse the flames which had jumped to his sleeve.
The Smithy Family – father Nick, his partner Jess and their two children – have earned 2.5million followers on TikTok by uploading videos of their exploits.
However, they have had a three-month campaign of intimidation waged against them, which has seen nearly 100 takeaways ordered to their home in just one day and prostitutes sent to their door.
Earlier today, the Smithy Family shared footage of the aftermath of the blaze at their semi-detached house in Bexleyheath with their 2.5million followers.
Mr Smith told viewers that ‘two people’ were responsible for the fire and they ‘could’ve killed our family’.
Exclusive footage shared with MailOnline shows the car of TikTok stars the Smithy family on fire after it was set alight by arsonists at their home in Welling, south-east London
Speaking to MailOnline this evening, he said: ‘This has caused the best part of £40,000 damage to the house, which I’ve spent the last five-years doing up.
‘I caught the culprits red handed on camera. One of them is seen lurking around the car trying to prise open a window before getting one of the doors open.
‘While he’s dousing the car in a flammable liquid, his mate’s over the road filming it on his phone.
‘The one pouring the liquid mistakingly spills some of it onto his sleeve so as he lights it, part of his arm goes up as well as he runs off.’
Mr Smith added: ‘We’ve had three months of stress.
‘We’ve had threats online, we’ve had people come by and smash the windows of the car and on the house, people have been delivering takeaways to the house as well as prostitutes.
‘This is the last straw, I think, I can’t move my family back here after this. I’m tired of it all.’
Yobs were caught on a neighbour’s security camera running down the street towards a railway bridge after they had targeted the social media stars
A family of TikTok stars have claimed they are victims of an arson attack which saw their family home go up in smoke. Father Nick Smith told viewers that ‘two people’ were responsible for the fire and they ‘could’ve killed our family’
The fire broke out at 10.45pm.
The flames and heat from the blazing car destroyed the front door and damaged some of the windows while the smoke blackened the whole of the front of the property.
Luckily, however, the family escaped serious injury.
A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘We’ve given our CCTV footage to the police.
‘You see a bright flash and then a second later one man runs down the street, quickly followed by his accomplice on the other side of the road.
‘They both ran over the railway bridge at the end of the road.
‘It’s disgusting, they have a young family who could have been injured or killed.’
Next-door neighbour Lisa Ring, 52, told how Mr Smithy passed his daughters; Amelia, aged six and nine-year-old Isabella and his newborn baby boy, Teddy, to her over their back garden fence.
She said: ‘The first thing I heard was my dog barking downstairs and then the street was lit up in an orange glow.
‘Nick was in the back garden with the kids, I came down and met him by the fence and he lifted the children over to me to get them out of harm’s way.
‘Thankfully none of them were hurt but Nick and Jess were very shaken up. He said that he’d waken Amelia up and got her up but she was half-asleep and went back to bed because she didn’t realise the danger but luckily everyone was safe.
‘They’ve had a bit of intimidation over the last year, when their address was leaked over the internet, but it seems to have intensified over the last three-months or so.
‘They keep on getting people send round takeaways, cash on delivery. Recently, in just one day, they had 95 takeaways arrive at their door.
‘Some of the food had been delivered from miles away and Nick felt sorry for some of the smaller businesses who had been duped so he paid up. It cost him a small fortune.
‘Escorts and prostitutes have also been sent round to their house, which isn’t on as they have young children.
‘This is much more sinister, however. There’s one thing sending round takeaways but another torching their seven-seater car.
Shocking camera phone footage – obtained by MailOnline – shows the family’s car on fire on their driveway as mini-explosions can be heard
The fire broke out at 10.45pm. The flames and heat from the blazing car destroyed the front door and damaged some of the windows while the smoke blackened the whole of the front of the property
Ms Ring, who works as a concierge at London’s Canary Wharf, said that a trailer on the family’s driveway caught fire a year ago, which melted some of the front window bays on the house.
She said: ‘At the time Nick didn’t think there was any malice and that it was most likely a mechanical fault. But now, I don’t know if he’s all that sure.’
Ms Ring said that the local community are shocked that somebody could target the Smithy Family, adding: ‘It’s devastating,
‘People are obviously jealous that he seems to make money out of TikTok and they are really popular on social media with millions of fans.
‘Nick is a real family man and he says that it’s his ideal job because he loves spending time at home with his wife and kids.
‘I jokingly call him the ‘pest in the vest’ because he always wears one when he’s larking about but he does so much for charity and he’s got the biggest heart in the world.’
London Fire Brigade said 20 firefighters rushed to the scene last night after flames from a burning car ‘spread up the outside of the house’ and set a ‘number of mobility scooters’ alight.
Police were called by the London Fire Brigade shortly after 11pm on Wednesday night
On realising their home was ablaze, Mr Smith and his partner Jess grabbed their daughters Amelia, six, and Isabella, nine, and newborn baby son Teddy and rushed outside at around 10pm.
The fire was put out by 12.30am and the cause of the blaze is ‘under investigation’, Met Police said.
In a video shared to the family’s TikTok account, Mr Smith shows the charred remains of the car which caught fire.
The video also shows his burnt out house, still glowing orange from the devastating fire.
The family’s popularity on the video-sharing app has lead to online address leaks – resulting in bizarre deliveries turning up at their house unordered.
On one occasion, an escort arrived at the door of the family’s home. Police have not said if the fire was targeted arson.
In one clip, Mr Smith says: ‘I’m doing this video because people have already uploaded videos of the fire.
‘We all got out of the house ok. Kids are fine. Me and Jess are fine, the dogs are ok.’
Breaking into tears he added: ‘The house isn’t ok. Jess and the kids are in a safe place.’
We went on to add: ‘To the two people who have done this.
‘You could’ve killed our family. And not only our family but our neighbours, my friends. It’s unforgivable.’
In another emotional video posted today, Mr Smith wipes his fingers along the smoke coating the walls of his daughters’ bedroom.
He says: ‘My girls were in this room. But that doesn’t matter to you does it.
‘One of you filmed while the other one did it.
‘I don’t think you realise the consequences of what you’ve done.’
‘It’s my little girls’ room man. They got it how they want it.’
He added: ‘I’ve worked so hard all my life to do the right thing.’
Two online fundraisers have been launched to raise money for the family. One titled ‘help the Smithy family’ hope to raise £10,000 to help them ‘rebuild their life again’.
In another emotional video posted today, Mr Smith (left) wipes his fingers along the smoke coating the walls (right) of his daughters’ bedroom
London Fire Brigade said 20 firefighters rushed to the scene last night after flames from a burning car ‘spread up the outside of the house’ and set a ‘number of mobility scooters’ alight
London Fire Brigade were called to reports of a car alight that had spread up the outside of the house last night (the aftermath, pictured)
The Smithy Family first gained notoriety on TikTok during lockdown. Father Nick Smith and his partner Jess shared funny videos of their children Amelia, six, and Isabella, nine
Mr Smith launched the account when his daughter said he was ‘too embarrassing’ to appear on her TikTok so had to create his own
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘We were called to reports of a car alight that had spread up the outside of the house.
‘There were a number of mobility scooters parked outside which had caught alight and were producing a large amount of smoke and flames.
‘Everyone was out of the building before we arrived, and crews worked incredibly hard to prevent further damage to the inside of the property and to neighbouring properties.’
There were a number of mobility scooters parked outside which had caught alight and were producing a large amount of smoke and flames (the aftermath, pictured)
A ‘number of mobility scooters’ caught alight in the blaze last night. The flames spread up the house
Officers and the London Fire Brigade attended the scene and the fire was extinguished at approximately 12.30am, Met Police said
The force said nobody was injured in the blaze (the aftermath, pictured) and enquiries are ongoing
The fire brigade said the exterior soffits, fascia and guttering of a semi-detached house were destroyed by fire
The family was so popular, Mr Smith was able to give up his job as a builder to do social media full time. Above: Mr Smith and his children wear England shirts and face paint during Euro 2020
The family share clips of family life, along with sketches. Their TikTok bio reads: ‘Life’s what you make it so make it good’. Above: Mr Smith poses for a snap on Instagram
Mr Smith has not revealed how much the family earn, but admitted the income from their Facebook page alone is more than what he made as a builder
The family collected £60,000 worth of gifts for the Salvation Army over Christmas. They now have 2.5million followers on TikTok. Above: The family in one of their videos
A Met Police spokesman added: ‘Police were called by the London Fire Brigade at approximately 23:06hrs on Wednesday, 15 July to a fire.
‘Officers and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) attended and the fire was extinguished at approximately 00:30hrs.
‘The cause of the fire is under investigation.’
The force said nobody was injured in the blaze and enquiries are ongoing.
Met Police said the cause of the fire is under investigation – but stressed there were no injuries
