Residents in Ballymena, County Antrim, were forced to evacuate their homes late on Tuesday night after a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of a ground-floor flat.
The incident occurred around 10:40pm on Carnduff Drive and is now being investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as a deliberate arson attack.
According to police reports, the incendiary device was thrown directly through the bedroom window of the flat, sparking a fire.
Fortunately, the property was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported. Emergency services swiftly attended the scene, containing the damage to the bedroom and preventing the fire from spreading to adjoining homes.
As a precaution, neighbouring flats were temporarily evacuated while firefighters worked to secure the area. Several windows of the targeted flat were smashed during the attack.
The PSNI is treating the incident as a serious criminal offence and has appealed for witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward.
This attack comes amid rising concerns over antisocial behaviour and violent incidents in parts of Northern Ireland. Ballymena, a town with a population of around 30,000, has experienced pockets of unrest in recent years, although violent attacks of this nature remain relatively rare.
In a statement, police emphasised their commitment to ensuring community safety and holding those responsible accountable.
Officers are continuing their investigation and urging local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the PSNI on 101, quoting the incident reference from Carnduff Drive, or reach out anonymously via Crimestoppers.
