Newry: Fire and gas leak 'threatened lives of residents'

A couple had to be rescued from a house in Newry after bins were set alight at a property on Sunday morning.

The fire service was called to the arson attack at a terraced house in Stream Street just after 04:40 BST.

Residents were evacuated from three other properties in the area.

The fire caused a leak in an external gas pipe which police said "threatened the lives of the residents of the property and their neighbours".

"Thankfully, they were all evacuated safely, but if our fire service colleagues had not acted so swiftly the consequences of this fire could have been catastrophic," said a police spokesperson.

It is understood the couple is originally from Poland.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) group commander Ross Toland said the fire had the potential to be very serious if crews had not been as quick to attend the scene.

"If the fire service hadn't attended this call as quickly and been as proactive in preventing this fire it certainly would have escalated," he said.

The police confirmed the fire was started deliberately and have appealed for information.

Michael Savage SDLP said: "This was a reckless act. These people do not speak for the people of Newry. This is an ethnically diverse and vibrant city.

"There could have been multiple deaths here last night."