Dissidents blamed for Newry arson attacks

Dissident Republicans are being blamed for overnight arson attacks on four businesses in Newry, County Down.

Around 150 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blazes, which are understood to have been started by incendiary devices just after 2am this morning.

The MFI store and Carpetrite at the Damolly Retail Park were badly damaged during the fire, and JJB Sports store on Monaghan Street and the TX Maxx store on Merchant's Quay have also been severely damaged.

A number of families from the Lisdrum area, were evacuated from their homes, while emergency services brought the fires under control.

A police presence will remain in the area throughout today, while forensic examinations are carried out.

Newry and Armagh UUP MLA, Danny Kennedy has strongly condemned the attacks.

Mr Kennedy said: “This attack is utterly reprehensible and should be condemned in the strongest possible. It appears to be the work of dissident republicans marking the anniversary of internment.

“It absolutely sickening that these people have terrorized the commercial centre of Newry with an action intended to strike fear into the hearts of businesses and shoppers alike. Not only has this vicious attack needlessly destroyed property, it has endangered lives.”

He continued: “I would pay tribute to the emergency services for their prompt action in tackling this horrific blaze and would re-iterate the call made by the PSNI for keyholders in the Newry area to check their premises.”

Sinn Fein MP for Newry, Conor Murphy today said: "It is believed that these stores have been damaged by incendiary type devices. It is suspected that this is the work of one of the republican micro organisations. These groups are opposed to the peace process and opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.

"The destruction of these businesses has caused much anger in the Newry area this morning and are particularly worrying for those people employed in these four stores."

He added: "I would call on those responsible for this incident to look objectively at the current political situation and to carefully consider your options. This sort of activity does nothing for this community and is an attack on the peace process which is supported by the overwhelming number of people on this island.

"This activity is wrong and should stop."

The Federation of Small Businesses in Newry has said that this morning's attacks were disgraceful.

Michael Rentmeister, FSB Branch Chairman for Newry, said: “These attacks achieve nothing, other than the destruction of business property and jobs in the Newry area.

“Newry has enjoyed a considerable amount of economic prosperity in the last decade and I am sure that the business community will bounce back and ensure that these attacks will not hold the city back from further progress.

“We would encourage all of our members and the broader business community in Newry to be extremely vigilant in the days to come.”

Police in Newry have asked keyholders of businesses in the area to check their premises for anything suspicious and report any findings to police immediately.

(EF/SP)