Two British soldiers have been arrested in connection with a fire in a Belfast hotel. They are being questioned by detectives about the blaze which is understood to have been started deliberately.
The British army took over fire-fighting duties during the Fire Brigade Union's strike. The blaze started in the kitchen of the Travelodge Hotel early yesterday as most guests were asleep.
The army confirmed the two men arrested were off-duty soldiers. Fire Service divisional officer, Mr Harry Walsh, said: "The fire would appear to have been started deliberately. Initial inquires found some seat cushions had been put on an electric grill which was then apparently turned on. This is not the sort of thing I would expect in an accidental fire." There were reports that there was also flooding on the seventh floor of the hotel after a fire hose was turned on and left running.
Mr Jim Barbour of the Fire Brigade Union said: "But for the efforts of the police, fire service and hotel staff, there could have been many casualties."
Two homes have been attacked with pipe bombs in separate incidents in Co Antrim and Co Derry.
Two people escaped injury on Sunday night after a device was thrown at their home on the Browns Bay Road in Islandmagee, Co Antrim. It failed to explode. A family of three also escaped injury after a pipe bomb was thrown at their home in Fairview Park in Coleraine on Sunday night. It also failed to explode.
Loyalists are believed to have been responsible for both attacks. SDLP Assembly member, Mr John Dallat, said it was disgusting that people suffered pipe bomb attacks as Christmas approached.