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Dissidents behind arson - Murphy | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The regional development minister has blamed dissident republicans for an arson attack on his home in South Armagh. | |
Two cars were destroyed in the attack in the Church Road area of Camlough at about 0100 BST on Thursday. | |
Conor Murphy said he had to evacuate his wife and children from the house and warn his wife's elderly parents next door. | |
He said the "cowardly attack" could have killed someone. | |
"We had to evacuate our own kids out of our house, down to neighbour's houses, in case the cars actually exploded while they were burning," he said. | "We had to evacuate our own kids out of our house, down to neighbour's houses, in case the cars actually exploded while they were burning," he said. |
"They were all fairly traumatised by the whole experience. | "They were all fairly traumatised by the whole experience. |
"There was some damage to both houses but the fire brigade managed to get the fires out before the houses caught fire. | |
"If the petrol tanks in both cars had exploded I think the two houses would have gone on fire and the people in there would have been in grave danger. | |
"The people who came in here and did this had no regard for the safety of any of the people in either house. | |
"It was just an intent to cause damage and quite potentially a loss of life." | |
Both houses sustained scorch damage in the attack. No-one was injured. | |
The Newry and Armagh MP said he would not be deflected from representing local people. | The Newry and Armagh MP said he would not be deflected from representing local people. |
"The reality is the people who sneaked into my yard last night and traumatised my kids, my parents-in-law, my wife haven't offered any explanation as to who they are or what they're about. | "The reality is the people who sneaked into my yard last night and traumatised my kids, my parents-in-law, my wife haven't offered any explanation as to who they are or what they're about. |
"It is incumbent on them to do so and let people decide whether they offer a better way forward. | "It is incumbent on them to do so and let people decide whether they offer a better way forward. |
"Until such times as these people come out from under cover of darkness we can't actually ascertain who they are or what their motives are." | "Until such times as these people come out from under cover of darkness we can't actually ascertain who they are or what their motives are." |
The police said they were treating the incident as malicious and have appealed for witnesses. | The police said they were treating the incident as malicious and have appealed for witnesses. |
The area has been cordoned off. | The area has been cordoned off. |