The victim of a violent robbery on Tasmania's east coast has described the people who attacked him as "pure evil".Grant Whelan, 76, was bound with cable ties and assaulted by at least two men, who robbed his home and stole nine of his firearms in the early hours of Saturday morning.They then dragged him outside into the cold, set his Coles Bay home on fire, and forced him to watch as it burnt to the ground.In a statement provided to the ABC from hospital, Mr Whelan said he was thankful for the community support, including an online fundraiser that has raised about $70,000."[It is] extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary," Mr Whelan said.Mr Whelan described the offenders as "pure evil".Mr Whelan said he had been dealing with nightmares since the incident on Saturday.The men who attacked Mr Whelan have not yet been found.Detective Inspector David Gill said police continued to search for the offenders and the stolen firearms, which were registered."We're renewing our call for anyone with information that may assist our investigations to come forward," Inspector Gill said."If you have dash-cam or CCTV that may be relevant to our investigations, or information in relation to the stolen firearms or anyone who has obtained or is selling firearms, please come forward."Mr Whelan's car was also stolen, but was found on Saturday afternoon, submerged in the nearby Apsley River.