In the early hours of Wednesday, a family home in Newry, Northern Ireland, was severely damaged by a fire caused by a petrol bomb attack. The incident resulted in serious burn injuries to a man and the unfortunate death of a pet dog. The attack occurred around 2:20 am when a suspected petrol bomb was thrown through the living room window of a house in the Armagh Road area of Clonmore, as reported by Belfast Live.
Emergency services, including the police and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, responded to the scene promptly. A man in his 50s sustained severe burn injuries in the living room, while three other occupants managed to escape the burning property, although the family’s pet dog tragically perished in the fire.
The injured man remains hospitalized, while the other occupants received treatment for smoke inhalation. Authorities described the incident as a deliberate act to endanger lives and destroy property, with a neighboring home also suffering smoke damage. The police are treating the case as arson with intent to endanger life and have initiated an investigation.
Justin McNulty, an MLA for SDLP Newry & Armagh, strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing the gravity of the situation that endangered lives and caused property damage. He called for anyone with information to assist the police in holding the perpetrators accountable.
Police urged the public to provide any relevant information or footage related to the incident to aid their ongoing investigation. Individuals can contact the authorities through the provided channels, including the non-emergency reporting form on the police website or by reaching out to Crimestoppers anonymously.
The community and authorities are working together to ensure justice and safety, seeking cooperation from the public to bring those responsible to justice.