Belfast apartment block fire treated as arson with entent to endanger life

Q Newsdesk

Police are treating a fire in East Belfast as arson with with intent to endanger life.

It happened in the communal area of an apartment block in the Mount Area at around 12.30 this morning.

A mattress was set alight - causing damage to walls and doors in the building.

No-one was injured in the incident.

In a statement the PSNI said:

"!Detectives are appealing for witnesses following an arson attack in east Belfast during the early hours of this morning, Sunday 31 March."

"It was reported that at around 12.30am a mattress had been set on fire in the communal area of an Apartment block in The Mount area.  Police and NIFRS attended and the fire was extinguished.  Scorch damage was caused to the walls and doors in the communal area as a result of the incident." 

"Detective Sergeant O’Flaherty said: “Thankfully no one was injured as a result of this incident, however I am treating this as arson with intent to endanger life and I am asking anyone who was in the area late last night or early this morning to contact Detectives in Musgrave Police Station on 101, quoting reference 53 of 31/03/19.  Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”