Residents were forced from their homes after a car fire spread to nearby houses in Coleraine on Thursday in what police are treating as an arson attack.
A car was completely destroyed in the blaze in the Laurel Hill Road area of the Co Derry town, while windows at the front of the house were shattered.
The resident of the house along with others at a nearby address were evacuated as a result of the fire, which the PSNI believe was started deliberately.
READ MORE: Derry: Four explosives in cemetery were 'viable pipe bombs'
The incident was reported to police shortly after 1.20am on Thursday, and the PSNI has appealed for information from anyone who may have been in the area at the time.
Detective Sergeant Gardiner said: “Just after 1.20am, police received a report from colleagues in Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service that a car was on fire in the Laurel Hill Road area of the town.
“Officers attended the scene and discovered that the fire had spread to the residential property outside which the vehicle was parked.
"Thankfully, the resident of the property and those present at a nearby address were evacuated and fire service were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread further; however the car was completely destroyed and windows at the front of the property had been shattered by the heat.
“At this stage we believe the ignition was deliberate. This was a reckless attack which had the potential to cause serious harm to local residents and as such is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life.
“Enquires are ongoing, and I am appealing to anyone who has any information about what happened, or who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area at the time, to call 101 and quote reference number 79 of 13/04/23.”
READ NEXT:
- Police visit Derry cemetery amid reports of explosive device in area
- PM Sunak’s visit to hospital to meet DCI John Caldwell and family
- Lyra McKee’s partner condemns recent violence in Northern Ireland
- Derry disorder: Police to review footage after officers attacked with petrol bombs
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
