A 23-year-old British soldier is to appear before Laganside Magistrates Court in the morning charged in connection with an overnight fire at a Belfast hotel.
A 23-year-old British soldier is to appear before Laganside Magistrates Court in the morning charged in connection with an overnight fire at a Belfast hotel.
He is to be charged with criminal damage and arson with intent to endanger life.
Another soldier has been bailed to re-appear before police on December 30th, a PSNI spokesman said.
The two were detained earlier after a fire at the Travelodge in Brunswick Street, Belfast. The fire, which was reported at about 3 a.m., appears to be have been started deliberately, causing damage to the hotel kitchen.
A Fire Service officer said: "Initial inquiries found that some seat cushions had been put on an electric grill which was then apparently turned on."
It is understood the soldiers were staying in Belfast as part of the firefighting arrangements set up by the army during the Fire Brigade Union strike.
Over 500 troops were specially drafted into Northern Ireland ahead of the last eight-day strike to man Yellow Goddesses.