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Residents escape house fire and man assaulted in suspected arson

Lili BusbyBBC News NI
News imagepacemaker Three burnt-out cars outside a house with a yellow door, which has some broken windowspacemaker
Burnt-out cars outside the house in Newtownabbey

The occupants of a County Antrim house that was deliberately set on fire managed to escape, police have said.

It happened at about 23:00 BST in Fairview Lane in Newtownabbey.

Police arrived to find the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service dealing with three vehicles and a house on fire.

The occupants of the property were able to get out and a man had minor head injuries that police believe are consistent with a suspected assault.

Substantial damage was caused to the house and vehicles due to the fires.

Police are investigating the potential that a "disturbance and assault" had occurred inside the property.

Police are treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life and burglary.

Detectives say enquiries are continuing to determine a motive and who was involved.

Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Sgt Ash said police were keen to hear from anyone who may have CCTV, dash-cam or other footage of the area or who noticed suspicious behaviour.