Four Hospitalised and Pet Dog Killed in Newry Petrol Bomb Attack

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Police are investigating after a man was left with serious burn injuries when a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of a house in Newry in the early hours of Wednesday 14 January, killing the family's pet dog.

Chris Kent 30 October and Blondie Tribute 28 December @ Canal Court Hotel

Police received a report around 2.20am that a suspected petrol bomb had been thrown through the living room window of a house in Clonmore in the Armagh Road area of the city. Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who extinguished the fire.

Detective Inspector Moffett said: "In the living room at the time was a man in his 50s who sustained a serious burn injury. Three people, including a teenager, were upstairs at the time and were able to make their way out of the burning property. However, the family's pet dog died in the house fire."

The man remains in hospital and the other three occupants have been treated for smoke inhalation. A neighbouring home was also smoke damaged as a result of the attack.

Detective Inspector Moffett added: "This was a very serious incident when a property was deliberately set on fire with clear intent to risk life and destroy someone's home."

Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty condemned the incident. Mr McNulty said: “This was a shocking incident that has left a man in hospital and a family pet dead. This situation could have been even worse with a number of people upstairs in the property at the time of the attack who had to fight their way to safety. A neighbouring property was also damaged. This must have been terribly frightening for neighbours and nobody should be subjected to this.

“This is an attack that could have resulted in innocent fatalities. Nobody expects something like this to happen on their doorsteps and this was clearly a violent attack with an intent to cause real harm."

Enquiries are ongoing and detectives are appealing to anyone who saw anything or who has any information, including dash-cam, CCTV or other footage, to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 93 14/01/26. Police are investigating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life. Alternatively, information can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.