Arson attack treated as racially motivated

An arson attack in Newtownabbey is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime.

Police said two cars were damaged in the fire and a window was smashed in a house on Saturday.

Graffiti was also sprayed on the house, which is located in the East Way area of Newtownabbey.

The police have said the family, including three young children, who were in the house have been “left shaken by the ordeal”.

PSNI Insp Brown said: “Officers attended, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze. Significant damage has been caused to both cars.

“It was further reported that glass in a window and door of a nearby house had been smashed and that there was graffiti on the front of the house.

“Thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported by the family who were inside the house at the time – a man, a woman and three young children – although they have been left shaken by the ordeal.”