Six a.m. in Belfast is like six a.m. in most cities, some people are getting up to go to work, others lying-on in their beds, others already at work. But Belfast of course is slightly different. Belfast has people out throwing petrol bombs.

Take this morning, for instance, the Fire and Rescue Service and the Police were called to St Patrick’s College Bearnageeha on the Antrim Road in the north of the city following reports of a fire. Fortunately they found that the fire had burnt itself out. But what had happened? Someone thought that it would be a good idea to set fire to a school. Remains of a petrol bomb was found and evidence of an accelerant having been squirted through a window and set alight.

Waste of resources

This senseless attack achieves nothing of worth. It causes smoke damage to a number of classrooms and corridors. It disrupts a school within weeks of the end of the school year. And it means that much needed resources will need to be spent on repairing the damage and cleaning up.

Gerry Lynch of the Alliance Pary this morning condemned the attack, saying, “This was a despicable and thoughtless attack on a vital community facility in North Belfast.

“It baffles me as to why anyone would want to damage a school. Attacks like this often cause disruption in the community and local people will be angry with the perpetrators.

The Alliance man urged for assistance to be given to those investigating this crime, “Anyone who saw anything that could help the police catch those involved in this incident should contact them immediately.”

Report on BBC NEWS