Fire at Ballymena apartment block treated as arson attack

Police are treating a fire at an apartment block in Ballymena as arson with intent to endanger life.

The blaze was reported in the Warden Square area of the Co Antrim town shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, while police noted it had been started deliberately in the bedroom of a property, and caused “extensive damage to that room”.

A PSNI spokesperson said one person was in the property at the time, and “thankfully, no injuries were reported”.  

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“We are treating this attack as arson with intent to endanger life,” the spokesperson said. 

“The fire was set in a block of apartments, and the consequences of this act could have been much more serious.

”Our enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist with our investigation, particularly anyone with CCTV, dashcam or other relevant footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1386 of 14/09/24.”