Two cars were set on fire outside the home of a nationalist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly early today.
Arsonists set fire to the cars outside the Strabane home of SDLP West Tyrone MLA Mr Eugene McMenamin early this morning, starting a fire that almost spread to the house where he and his family were sleeping.
Mr McMenamin blamed the attack on republicans opposed to his support of his party's decision to back policing reforms and take its places on the new Policing Board. Over recent months he had been writing in his local paper in support of his party's line on policing.
But Mr McMenamin said he could not say whether he was targeted by mainstream or dissident republicans.
Mr McMenamin, condemning what he said he regarded as attempted murder, said: "We have witnessed what happens in this community when somebody disagrees with your political point of view".
"The responsibility for actions like this attack on my home clearly lie with those who want to replace state authority with their own particular brand of intimidation." It was time "these thugs" grew up and realised democracy was the only way forward, he said.
It is the second time the house has been targeted. Slogans were daubed on the walls in the previous attack.
PA