Residents trapped in Ballymena flats during arson

A fire in Ballymena, County Antrim, which resulted in three residents being trapped in their flats due to the amount of smoke, is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life.

The incident in the hallway of the flats complex in the Drumtara area was reported at about 00:25 GMT on Thursday.

Police said no serious injuries were reported, but added there could have been "much more serious consequences".

They said a 32-year-old man, located by officers nearby, was "arrested on suspicion of threats to damage property, attempted burglary and arson endangering life with intent".

Police believe the arson is linked to a number of incidents that happened earlier in Ballymena.

At about 23:10 GMT on Wednesday, police received a report of a burglary at a shop in Wellington Street.

They said an "unknown man was discovered in the storeroom area of the shop, and made off on foot when the alarm was raised".

“It’s understood the suspect smashed a window in order to gain entry to the storeroom, and stole a mobile phone belonging to a staff member."

Police said they then received a second report shortly before midnight "of a rustling sound in the hallway of a flat in the Drumtara area".

“A man was located attempting to steal a television and was challenged by the reporting person," they added.

“The suspect made off and is understood to have then tried to access other properties in the building before leaving empty handed."

Police said that at about 00:25 GMT on Thursday morning, "whilst officers were in the area making enquiries – police received a report of a fire within the hallway of the flat complex".

“Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the blaze which is believed to have been started after a mattress was set alight in a storeroom."

Police said three residents were trapped in their flats throughout the duration of this fire, and "were unable to leave due to the amount of smoke".

They have appealed for information about the incidents.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said three fire engines attended the incident in the ground floor communal area of the two-storey block of flats.

They said firefighters wearing breathing apparatus "rescued two people from the flats" and that "they extinguished the fire using one-hose reel".

They added that the "cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition" and the incident was dealt with by 00:52 GMT.