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Families escape injury in three linked arson attacks

Eimear FlanaganBBC News NI
News imageGoogle Maps A screengrab of a Google Streetview image of Bristol Park, Newtownards on a sunny day. The street is a mixture of red brick and white rendered houses of different sizes, including terraced properties and bungalows. A number of trees line grassed areas along the roadside. Google Maps
A family home in Bristol Park, Newtownards, was the first of three properties attacked by masked arsonists

Two families have escaped injury after masked men attacked homes and vehicles in Newtownards during three incidents which police believe are linked.

Police said children were at home during the first attack in Bristol Park, where a gang smashed the windows of a family home before trying to set a car on fire.

About 40 minutes later, the windows of another family home were smashed in Weavers Grange, before a petrol bomb was thrown inside, setting a sofa alight.

In between the two attacks on Sunday night, firefighters were called to an arson attack at Victoria Avenue where a minibus and a car were burnt out and a business was extensively damaged by fire.

'Terrifying experience'

Det Sgt Marley, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said the Bristol Park attack took place at about 22:50 BST on Sunday.

"A family, including children, were at home at the time of this attack and this must have been a terrifying experience," the officer said.

Marley added that the masked men, dressed in dark clothing, used a hammer to smash the front windows and a door window of the home.

"The men also attempted to light a carton filled with accelerant, and threw it into the vehicle. It failed to ignite."

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it was called out to the fire on Victoria Avenue at 23:25 BST.

It was reported that minibus and a car were ablaze, and the fire then spread to a commercial property.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which NIFRS has confirmed was started deliberately.

'Grave risk'

About five minutes after that attack, police were called to Weavers Grange where masked men in dark clothing had smashed a living room window with hammers.

Police said another family were in the property when their sofa was set on fire by a petrol bomb.

"Thankfully, no injuries have been reported but it's completely unacceptable that members of our community should be placed at such grave risk," Marley said.

"The residents of Weavers Grange do not want to return to the violence and intimidation they have suffered in the past."

The officer added: "We believe that these incidents are linked and are following a number of lines of enquiry.

"There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days as our investigation continues."