A former playgroup site close to a Catholic Church in Poleglass has been targeted in an arson attack.
A portacabin at the site, formerly in the grounds of the Church of the Nativity, was deliberately set on fire on Saturday around 7.30pm. The portacabin was to be removed to make way for new social housing before the blaze.
Police are appealing for information following the incident. They stated: “A mobile building within the church grounds on the Bell Steele Road was damaged by fire. We received a report around 9.25pm and attended alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who extinguished the fire.
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“This mobile building was left as a charred shell and is a worrying escalation of the anti-social behaviour which is being reported in this area. We have proactively increased the number of officers patrolling this area and would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to issues of anti-social behaviour to contact police on 101.
“In regard to this arson, we would also appeal to anyone who was in the area and saw anything, or who may have video footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1962 of 28/5/22.”
Three fire vehicles attended the incident. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two jets to extinguish the fire. The incident was dealt with by 8.38pm and the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition.”
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