Northern Ireland

Boy escapes injury in Ballymena petrol bomb attack

The scene of a Petrol Bomb attack on a property at Alfred Street Place in Ballymena. Picture Bill Smyth 
The scene of a Petrol Bomb attack on a property at Alfred Street Place in Ballymena. Picture Bill Smyth  The scene of a Petrol Bomb attack on a property at Alfred Street Place in Ballymena. Picture Bill Smyth 

A 12-year-old boy escaped injury after a petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Ballymena, police have said.

The boy was in the house with three adults during the attack in the Alfred Street Place area of the town at 3.45am on Friday.

A window in the house was smashed and scorch damage caused to an exterior wall.

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Paul Frew, DUP MLA for the area, said it was lucky nobody was injured.

"But we could have a very different story emerging from this area today," he added.

"I understand the family were at home during the time of the incident, which caused extensive damage to the kitchen. Gas pipes were also damaged and could have caused loss of life.

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"I know many in the community including myself, cannot understand why this family home has been targeted in this way.

"This is a close-knit community and one which does not want to have this type of activity taking place in Ballymena.

"There is no place in society for actions like this and those responsible should be brought before the courts," said Mr Frew.

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PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin asked anyone with information about the attack to contact detectives at Ballymena on the non-emergency police number 101, quoting reference 147 of 21/4/17.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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