Car set alight after ramming homeless charity

A car was rammed into the shutters of the Welcome Organisation in west Belfast

A homeless charity's building in west Belfast has been badly damaged after a stolen car rammed into the building and was set alight.

The police are investigating after the suspected stolen Volkswagen Golf reversed into the shutters of the Welcome Organisation on Townsend Street and set on fire just after midnight on Tuesday.

Firefighters attended the scene to extinguish the fire, which caused damage to the inside and outside of the building.

The driver of the car fled from the scene and did not gain entry to the building.

Police have said they are treating the incident as arson.

'Senseless' attack

MLA Gerry Carroll says the incident is an attack on the wider community

West Belfast assembly member Gerry Carroll described the attack on the Welcome Organisation as "senseless".

“Last night’s incident was an attack on charity workers, on local volunteers, on the homeless, and on the entire West Belfast community," the People Before Profit representative said.

Police say they are treating the attack as arson

Mr Carroll said the Welcome Organisation provides crucial services for those experiencing homelessness and offered his solidarity to those affected.

"Whoever saw fit to ram a car into the Welcome Centre has only set that important work back, and it is some of the most vulnerable who will suffer the consequences," he added.

"This is not the first time the Welcome Organisation has been on the receiving end of such attacks and intimidation.

"Those responsible have nothing to offer working class communities which have been blighted by poverty, alienation, and homelessness."