Man jailed for arson at Royal Oldham Hospital ward

A man who set fire to a mental health ward at Royal Oldham Hospital has been jailed for three years and four months. Abdullah Al-Shamiri, 40, with no fixed address, admitted starting the blaze on Oak Ward on January 6, 2024, in an act that put vulnerable patients at serious risk.

Oak Ward, a 22-bed men-only mental health unit in Parklands House, was the target of the arson attack. The ward houses some of the hospital's most vulnerable patients receiving mental health treatment, making the offence particularly serious in the eyes of the court.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Al-Shamiri's actions could have endangered lives, leading to the charge of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. He appeared for sentencing on April 15, 2026, where Judge Nicholas Clarke KC handed down the 40-month prison term.

The incident has raised questions about security measures on mental health wards, particularly those housing patients who may be unable to evacuate quickly in an emergency. Hospital staff and patients on the ward were placed in immediate danger by the fire, though details of the damage caused have not been disclosed.