Car Chaos in Belfast: Arson and Assault Spree Rocks City Streets
Between Friday night and the early hours of Saturday, Belfast was rocked by a string of violent incidents involving car fires and assaults.
Blaze Erupts in Fitzwilliam Street
Detective Sergeant Dougherty revealed police were first called at 11:40pm on Friday after reports of a car ablaze in the Fitzwilliam Street area of south Belfast. Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames, but the vehicle was completely destroyed.
Attack on Woman in Lisburn Road
Minutes after the blaze, officers received a disturbing report of a man approaching a car on Lisburn Road. The suspect forced the female driver out of the vehicle before kicking and punching her, then fled on foot.
Multiple Vehicle Fires and Break-ins
- Shortly before 11:50pm, the man was spotted trying car door handles in Upper Crescent.
- By 12:05am on Saturday, two more cars were set alight on Cameroon Street, suffering extensive damage.
- Two additional vehicles in the area had their door handles tampered with.
Man Caught and Held in Custody
Police quickly tracked down the suspect near Botanic Avenue and arrested him on suspicion of two counts of arson and four counts of vehicle interference. He remains in custody while investigations continue.
“We urge anyone who saw suspicious activity between Friday and Saturday to contact us on 101 quoting reference 2114 09/12/22,” said Detective Sergeant Dougherty.
