Northern Ireland

PSNI probe after north Belfast car blaze

Social media footage shows car and van alight

A stock picture of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) logo badge in Derry City in Northern Ireland
A stock picture of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) logo badge in Derry City in Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Police are investigating after a car was torched in north Belfast.

A spokesman said officers received a report of a car on fire in the North Queen Street area shortly after 8pm on Saturday.

The investigation comes after footage was circulated on social media showing a car being attacked by two masked men welding baseball bats.

Another clip appeared to show a vehicle on fire while a third film included a van on fire in the driveway of a house.

A spokesman for the PSNI said the Fire Service “attended and extinguished the fire” and that “enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances”.

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SDLP councillor for north Belfast Carl Whyte described the incident as concerning.

“This is a chilling scene that will cause serious concern across the community. There’s no justification for it and those responsible clearly have no regard for the safety of local residents. I would appeal to anyone with information to come forward to police as soon as possible.”