Two residents left shaken after suspected arson attack at Antrim flat

Two people were inside a flat in Antrim when a fire was deliberately started at the property on Tuesday evening in what police are treating as arson with intent to endanger life.

Emergency services were called to the incident in the Kilgreel Road area at around 7.05pm on Tuesday, May 26, after reports that a flat was on fire.

The blaze had already been extinguished by the occupants before officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene.

Police say the attack has left the two residents badly shaken, while scorch damage was caused around the property’s letterbox.

Police treating fire as deliberate attack

Detective Sergeant Crothers said detectives are treating the incident as deliberate ignition and have launched an investigation into what happened.

He said:

“We received a report at around 7.05pm of a flat on fire in the Kilgreel Road area.

“Officers attended the scene, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. However, the fire had already been extinguished by the occupants.

“There were two people in the flat when this attack occurred and they are understandably quite shaken by what happened. The fire has also left scorch marks around the letterbox.

“We’re subsequently treating this as deliberate ignition and as arson with intent to endanger life, with our enquiries ongoing.”

Appeal for CCTV and doorbell footage

Detectives are urging anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area on Tuesday evening to come forward.

Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have CCTV, dashcam, ring-doorbell or other video footage which could assist the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1701 of 26/05/26.

Reports can also be submitted online using the PSNI non-emergency reporting form at: http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at: http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Police enquiries into the suspected arson attack remain ongoing as detectives work to establish who was responsible and the circumstances surrounding the fire.