Teenager for court over school arson attack

A 13-year-old boy will today appear in court charged with an arson attack on a Catholic primary school in Ballymena.

A 13-year-old boy will today appear in court charged with an arson attack on a Catholic primary school in Ballymena.

Police are questioning another boy (15) in connection with the fire at St Louis Primary School in the Co Antrim town.

A classroom window at the school was forced open on Tuesday night. Petrol was poured in and was set on fire. The blaze damaged the floor and blackened the room and surrounding area.

The attack happened a day after five petrol bombs were thrown into the canteen and library of St Mary's Primary School in the Harryville area of the town. A Catholic church in Harryville was also targeted in recent weeks in paint bomb attacks.

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Catholic homes and property have also been attacked in the village of Ahoghill, where police issued families with fire blankets, and in Rasharkin.

Patrols were stepped up in Ballymena last night after the PSNI district commander yesterday said more officers were needed to combat sectarian attacks on Catholic property.

PA