Four people escape injury after suspected arson attack in Newtownards

Q Newsdesk

Four people have escaped injury after a car was set alight in a suspected arson attack in Newtownards.

It happened in the Fairfield Court area early this morning.

Police say burning fuel escaped from the vehicle and ran towards a house but didn't reach the property.

Two adults and two young girls, aged 11 and 5, were inside at the time.

Two people were seen running away from the scene.

(Pics by Alan Lewis)

A police spokesperson said:

Police received a report of a car on fire and criminal damage to a house in the Fairfield Court area of Newtownards in the early hours of this morning, Sunday 7 October.

Inspector Savage said: “We received a report around 1.30am that all the downstairs windows had been smashed at this property and that a car outside it had been set alight. 

“Burning fuel escaped from the vehicle and ran towards the house.  However, it did not reach the property.  The NIFRS attended and put out the fire and we are treating this incident as arson.

“There were two adults in the house (a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s) at the time of the incident, as well as two girls aged 11 and 5.  They were uninjured, but were left shocked.

“Two people were seen running away from the scene.

“We are appealing to anyone with information about what happened, or who saw suspicious activity in the area late last night or early this morning to get in touch with police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 124 of 7/10/18.”

Alternatively, information can also 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.

(Pics by Alan Lewis)