Families targeted in petrol bomb attacks on houses in Antrim

Two families have escaped injury following a petrol bomb attack on their homes in Antrim town.

Two families have escaped injury following a petrol bomb attack on their homes in Antrim town.

Smoke and scorch damage was caused to the two houses at Dromain Drive in the Stiles estate on Friday night.

The families said they did not believe the incident was sectarian.

Also on Friday, rival gangs attacked Protestant and Catholic homes in north Belfast. The PSNI is examining CCTV footage to identify those involved in throwing stones and other missiles.

READ MORE

Sinn Féin called for calm and denounced the attacks on Catholic homes on Deerpark Road and Ardoyne Road. A local councillor, Ms Margaret McClenaghan also criticised what she called "anti-social elements" who attacked Protestant properties in nearby Glenbryn which is close to Holy Cross primary school, the scene of a protracted picket of Catholic girls as they went to school.

Mr Mark Coulter, a community worker in Glenbryn, echoed Sinn Féin's call for restraint.

"While this is the third time this week that nationalists have crossed the interface to attack homes inside Glenbryn, random retaliation will not help those who have suffered again," he said.

A few hours later in Co Down, a prison officer, Mr Desmond Waterworth, escaped injury when his home was attacked in Holywood for the second time in two weeks. His wife and two daughters were there at about 3 a.m., the time of the attack. It blew a hole in their front door.

Six pipe-bombs were discovered in Belfast later on Saturday afternoon close to a school. They were found in a plastic bag in undergrowth near the Arellian Nursery School near Sandy Row in south Belfast. The SDLP said the discovery was horrifying.

In Derry, scorch damage was caused to an office building following an attack in the early hours of yesterday. The petrol-bombing happened at the Northern Ireland Probation Board office at Crawford Square, off the Northland Road in the city. No-one was injured.

Last night a man was recovering in hospital after he was beaten and shot in a paramilitary-style attack in Co Tyrone.