Police appeal after Moneyreagh arson attack causes 'extensive' damage to four buildings
Police say an overnight fire that caused 'extensive' damage to four buildings in a commercial yard in Co Down is being treated as an arson attack.
Just after 11.30pm on Friday, 20th September, police received a report from colleagues at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service that they were attending a fire at Ballybeen Road in Moneyreagh.
Officers attended and it was established that the fire had been started deliberately in a commercial yard, causing extensive damage to a stables, static caravan and two unused outbuildings.
READ MORE: 50 firefighters tackle major overnight blaze in Co Down
READ MORE: Orange Order parade in north Belfast passes peacefully despite local protests
A NIFRS spokesperson said: “NIFRS have completed fire-fighting operations at the incident at Ballybeen Road, Moneyreagh, Carryduff. NIFRS crews were mobilised to the incident at 11:14pm on 20th September.
"At the height of the incident, nine fire appliances and a total of 50 personnel were in attendance at the scene of the fire, involving a number of outbuildings. Crews from Carryduff, Central, Comber, Knock, Newtownards and Lisburn worked diligently to extinguish the fire and firefighters left the scene at 06:23am on 21st September”.
A PSNI spokesperson added: "Thankfully, no persons or animals were inside the buildings. We are treating this attack as arson. Our enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist with our investigation, particularly anyone with CCTV, dashcam or other relevant footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1927 of 20/09/24."
Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.