Pizza takeaway arson devastating, says Belfast owner

A man who was arrested over an arson attack that caused extensive damage to a pizza takeaway shop in west Belfast has been released on bail.

Police believe a car was driven into the shutters of Pizza Guyz on Andersonstown Road and the building deliberately set on fire.

The attack was spotted by a police patrol at 05:00 GMT on Tuesday.

The business' owner, Ciaran Kelly, described the attack as "devastating".

A 31-year-old man had been detained in relation to the incident before he was released for further police enquiries to be carried out.

'A tough time'

Mr Kelly said a staff member alerted him to the blaze at about 05:30.

"I came down as quick as I could and saw a car smashed into the shop," he told BBC News NI.

"As far as I know the shop got rammed, the guys went in burgled it and set it on fire. Could have been much worse if the fire brigade didn't do their job so well.

"It's devastating for our staff and the community."

The businessman added that there will be "a lot of upheaval" as a result of the incident.

He said: "We've 14 staff in the shop and we have drivers so it's going to a tough time for them until we're back up and running.

The takeaway was badly damaged by the fire

"I don't know when that'll be as there is a serious amount of water damage done in the shop."

MP for the area Paul Maskey condemned the attack, which he described as deplorable.

"Pizza Guyz employs many local people and is a highly respected business right across our community," he explained.

"Attacks like this could end in death or serious injury, and it's lucky no one was physically hurt here."

Four fire engines attended the scene and extinguished the fire.

The Andersonstown Road was closed for a period between Fruithill and Dunmisk Park but has since reopened.