Arson attack on Derry home condemned

Detectives are appealing for information following a report of arson at residential premises in the the Ballymagowan area of Derry on Friday evening, February 20.

At around 7.30pm, it was reported to police that a wheelie bin had been pushed against a property and set alight. No one was inside the premises during the incident.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the fire.

Detective Inspector Lizzie Ballentine said: “Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances and police would appeal to anyone with any information to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 1466 – 20/02/26.  Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ .”

Sinn Féin councillor Emma McGinley slammed those who attempted to burn a house in the Ballymagowan area of the Creggan estate last night.

"These criminals need to stop what they are doing and get off the backs of the local community," Cllr McGinley commented.

"It is only by chance  that nobody has been injured in this incident but an innocent person is going to end up seriously hurt or worse if these attacks continue.

"Creggan is a proud community and this type of reckless attack is totally unjustifiable.

"I am calling on anyone with information on what happened to bring it forward and for these attacks to end."