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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Teenager critical after fire bomb | Teenager critical after fire bomb |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Police are treating as attempted murder a petrol bomb attack in west Belfast which left a teenager critically ill. | Police are treating as attempted murder a petrol bomb attack in west Belfast which left a teenager critically ill. |
| Three people were in the house in New Barnsley Crescent when a device was thrown into it shortly after 2200 GMT on Wednesday. | Three people were in the house in New Barnsley Crescent when a device was thrown into it shortly after 2200 GMT on Wednesday. |
| It is understood the clothes of a 19-year-old man caught fire as he attempted to help a woman in the house. | It is understood the clothes of a 19-year-old man caught fire as he attempted to help a woman in the house. |
| Police said a feud between two families in the area was the "main line of inquiry" as to a motive for the attack. | |
| The woman who the teenager tried to help and her boyfriend were also injured in the attack. | The woman who the teenager tried to help and her boyfriend were also injured in the attack. |
| Two men were seen running from the area and police are investigating reports their clothing may have been on fire. | Two men were seen running from the area and police are investigating reports their clothing may have been on fire. |
| 'Horrendous' | 'Horrendous' |
| Chief Superintendent David Boultwood, the police's west Belfast district commander, described the attack as "horrendous". | Chief Superintendent David Boultwood, the police's west Belfast district commander, described the attack as "horrendous". |
| "It really beggars belief why people would carry out such an attack," he said. | "It really beggars belief why people would carry out such an attack," he said. |
| "We are treating it as attempted murder because whoever carried this attack out clearly intended that people would die as a result." | "We are treating it as attempted murder because whoever carried this attack out clearly intended that people would die as a result." |
| Chief Supt Boultwood appealed for the community to contact the police with information and said some people must know who is behind attacks linked to the feud. | Chief Supt Boultwood appealed for the community to contact the police with information and said some people must know who is behind attacks linked to the feud. |
| "There are people there who are living in denial. They have to face up to the fact that relations, friends, are going to end up killing other people in the area," he said | "There are people there who are living in denial. They have to face up to the fact that relations, friends, are going to end up killing other people in the area," he said |
| Charlotte Burns said the injured teenager and her daughter were splashed with petrol when the attackers broke a window and tossed a container and then a petrol bomb into the room. | Charlotte Burns said the injured teenager and her daughter were splashed with petrol when the attackers broke a window and tossed a container and then a petrol bomb into the room. |
| She said the teenager's clothes caught fire when he attempted to remove burning material from her daughter Elizabeth's body. | She said the teenager's clothes caught fire when he attempted to remove burning material from her daughter Elizabeth's body. |
| Feud | Feud |
| In October, police said there had been 600 incidents in the Ballymurphy area - which is beside the New Barnsley estate - related to a feud between the Devlin and Notorantonio families. | In October, police said there had been 600 incidents in the Ballymurphy area - which is beside the New Barnsley estate - related to a feud between the Devlin and Notorantonio families. |
| Trouble in the area has been ongoing since the fatal stabbing of 39-year-old Gerard Devlin in February. | Trouble in the area has been ongoing since the fatal stabbing of 39-year-old Gerard Devlin in February. |
| Sinn Fein councillor Marie Cush appealed for an end to the violence. | Sinn Fein councillor Marie Cush appealed for an end to the violence. |
| "I am appalled at this incident. We have made many calls for these attacks to stop and we continue to condemn them," she said. | "I am appalled at this incident. We have made many calls for these attacks to stop and we continue to condemn them," she said. |
| "There is no place in the community for people who continually attack property and endanger the lives not only of those who live in the houses that are being attacked but of those living next door to them." | "There is no place in the community for people who continually attack property and endanger the lives not only of those who live in the houses that are being attacked but of those living next door to them." |