Two elderly sisters escaped serious injury this morning after a
petrol bomb was thrown into their house in east Belfast.
The women, who are Protestants, live in Madrid Street in the mainlyCatholic Short Strand area of east Belfast.
They were asleep in upstairs bedrooms at the time.
A passing RUC patrol noticed the living room of the house was on fireat about 1 a.m.
They broke in and fought the blaze before leading the women, aged 73and 79, outside.
The women were shocked but otherwise uninjured, an RUC spokesmansaid.
Lord Mayor of Belfast Mr Jim Rodgers claimed the attack on the twosisters appeared sectarian.
He said the women’s house had been attacked at least four times inthe past, mainly with windows being broken.
"They do nobody any harm. They have lived there for more than 50years," he said.
"Quite a number of people have had to leave that area because ofattacks but they have remained firm and I am hoping that they willnot move out."
One of the women, Ms Lila McLaughlin, said she had no idea why the housewas attacked and claimed she and her sister were lucky to be alive.
``Only for the firemen and the police, we wouldn't be here,'' shesaid.
``We don't know who done it for we have no enemies and are respectedby both denominations. All we want to do is remain the rest of ourdays here.''
East Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Joe O'Donnell later denied that theattack was sectarian and blamed loyalists. ``This petrol bomb attackcould have resulted in serious injury or indeed worse. However,despite media reports there is no possible way that this attack wascarried out by nationalists or people living in the Short Strand," hesaid.
``In recent weeks international observers and local community workershave been present at the interface areas in east Belfast. This wasagain the case last night. It would have been impossible fornationalists to carry out this attack from the Short Strand withoutbeing observed.
``This attack was carried out by loyalists. People should cast theirminds back to last year's attack on Protestant-owned homes in DenmarkStreet when initial media reports blamed nationalists but the factsall pointed to loyalist involvement,'' he said.
PA