Arson attack at Portadown recycling plant

A fire at a paper recycling plant in Co Armagh was today being treated as arson by police.

A fire at a paper recycling plant in Co Armagh was today being treated as arson by police.

They said a lorry was used to smash through the gate of the plant in Portadown before several fires were started.

A1 Recycling on the Carn Industrial Estate was badly damaged in the blaze. An accelerant was used to set fire to the front of the building and doors smashed to gain entry.

A PSNI spokesman said there were believed to have been fires set in up to three parts of the building.

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The Fire and Rescue service managed to get to the fire quickly and saved the building from total destruction. Seven crews fought the fire for over two hours before it was brought under control.

A1 Recycling deals mostly with cardboard and plastic packaging which is separated and baled up before being sent for recycling.

Meanwhile firefighters were called to Belfast Harbour after scrap metal began to smoulder on a cargo ship. The alarm was raised as the crew of the Bluebook arrived at the city's Musgrave Wharf from Birkenhead, Merseyside at around 9.30am.

At its height 40 firefighters and six appliances dealt with the incident, which involved scrap metal and waste oil in the hold of the ship.

No-one was injured in either fire.

PA