This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6269685.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Racial link to flat fire probed Flat fire racial link ruled out
(about 3 hours later)
Police believe a suspicious fire at a block of flats in south Belfast may have been racially motivated. Police investigating a suspicious fire at a block of flats in south Belfast have ruled out a racial motive.
Fire crews used ladders to rescue six people trapped in the upstairs flats at the property, on Eglantine Avenue, at about 0200 GMT.Fire crews used ladders to rescue six people trapped in the upstairs flats at the property, on Eglantine Avenue, at about 0200 GMT.
Fire crews found a burning mattress on the ground floor of the property, which is a house converted into six flats on three floors. A burning mattress was found on the ground floor of the three-storey house, which is converted into six flats.
A number of the residents are members of the Chinese community. A number of the residents are members of the Chinese community. Police say the fire was malicious.
After the alarm was raised controllers from the Fire and Rescue Service advised those trapped what to do until the fire crews arrived.After the alarm was raised controllers from the Fire and Rescue Service advised those trapped what to do until the fire crews arrived.
Watch commander Ashley Jeffries said it was fortunate that fire alarms were working at the flats, otherwise "we could have been talking about fatalities".Watch commander Ashley Jeffries said it was fortunate that fire alarms were working at the flats, otherwise "we could have been talking about fatalities".
"A mattress was located in the rear escape corridor - what seems to have been a lot of papers was placed on it so we are treating it as suspicious," he said."A mattress was located in the rear escape corridor - what seems to have been a lot of papers was placed on it so we are treating it as suspicious," he said.
The rescued people - including a family - were checked by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation and after treatment were allowed to stay with friends or relatives.The rescued people - including a family - were checked by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation and after treatment were allowed to stay with friends or relatives.
The Alliance Party's Anna Lo said she was "shocked and disgusted" by the incident. A police spokeswoman said: "Upon further investigation into a malicious fire in the Eglantine Avenue area, detectives have ruled out a racial motive and are continuing to appeal for information."
"There appears to be a very sinister element to this incident and the authorities have been examining the scene.
"We need to find out whether this arson attack was racially motivated," she said.
SDLP South Belfast assembly member Carmel Hannasaid she was outraged by it.
"As an SDLP MLA I believe that south Belfast should be an integrated and pluralist society where people from all cultures should be able to live together.
"It is totally unacceptable that any section of the community should be victimised in such a cruel way," she said.