Northern Ireland

Police investigate arson attack at east Belfast flat

The scene of the fire at the  Mount area of Ballymacarret, Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell 
The scene of the fire at the Mount area of Ballymacarret, Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell 

POLICE are probing an arson attack at a block of flats in east Belfast.

A property in The Mount area, just off the Woodstock Road, was deliberately set on fire on Sunday night.

Emergency services were called at around 10.45pm and residents were forced to leave their flats as the blaze was dealt with.

No-one was injured.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Michael Hawthorne said: "We are appealing to anyone that may have any information or to anyone that may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area at the time to contact detectives."

The housing estate was the scene of a horrific murder a decade ago.

The dismembered body of William McClatchey (34) was found in a bin at flats in The Mount in August 2007.

Mark Anderson Warwick pleaded guilty to the murder of the father-of-two and was sentenced to life in prison in 2008.