BELFAST – Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is appealing for witnesses after separate arson attacks in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and Downpatrick, Co Down, that left two homes badly damaged but caused no injuries, according to police.
Detectives are treating both incidents as arson with intent to endanger life. Firefighters and ambulance crews attended each scene, police said.
Separate attacks in Ballymena and Downpatrick
In Ballymena, police said petrol bombs were thrown at a ground-floor flat in the Drumtara area. A PSNI spokesperson said: “We received a report at around 3.05am that two suspected petrol bombs had been thrown at a ground-floor flat in the Drumtara area.” The spokesperson added: “Officers attended the scene, where colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already present.”
“On arrival, evidence of petrol bombs was noted and the living room window was also smashed. One person was in the flat at the time of the incident.”
“No injuries were reported, however, this was obviously a shock for them and there was significant damage caused to the interior of their home.”
In Downpatrick, officers responded to a report of a fire at a property in the Saul Street area. “Officers attended the scene, where the front door of the house was on fire and a number of ground-floor windows smashed,” said a spokesperson. “Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already present and subsequently extinguished the fire before it spread to any neighbouring properties. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended.” The spokesperson added: “However, the two people who were in the property at the time of the attack, were able to exit the house safely and no injuries were reported.” “This was obviously a shock for them, however, and there was significant damage caused to their home.”
Key facts at a glance
- Ballymena (Drumtara)
- Ground-floor flat targeted; living room window smashed.
- Evidence of petrol bombs; two suspected devices reported by police.
- One person inside; no injuries; significant interior damage.
- Downpatrick (Saul Street)
- Front door set alight; several ground-floor windows smashed.
- Two people exited safely; no injuries reported.
- Firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties; ambulance service attended.
Emergency response and investigative context
PSNI leads the criminal investigation, while the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for fire suppression and scene safety and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service provides medical assessment on scene.
Arson with intent to endanger life in Northern Ireland is prosecuted as an aggravated form of criminal damage under the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, which allows for sentences of up to life imprisonment where property is destroyed or damaged by fire and lives are put at risk. Investigations typically involve forensic examination of debris, house-to-house inquiries, recovery of CCTV and digital evidence, and coordinated safeguarding checks for those targeted.
Police said both incidents are being treated as arson with intent to endanger life and have appealed for witnesses and information. Officers are urging anyone who was in the Drumtara or Saul Street areas around the time of the attacks, or who may have dashcam or doorbell footage, to come forward, stressing that public cooperation is often critical in bringing serious arson cases before the courts.
