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| Family escape injury in Newtownards sectarian arson attack | Family escape injury in Newtownards sectarian arson attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman and three children targeted by arsonists escaped injury after being rescued by police and a neighbour from their burning house in Newtownards. | A woman and three children targeted by arsonists escaped injury after being rescued by police and a neighbour from their burning house in Newtownards. |
| Police believe a sectarian motive was behind the fire at the house in Lenamore Park. It is the third attack on the family in recent weeks. | |
| The woman, 38, and her children, aged between two and 12, were woken by a smoke alarm about 02:00 BST on Friday. | |
| PSNI officers and a neighbour climbed onto a roof to rescue the family. | PSNI officers and a neighbour climbed onto a roof to rescue the family. |
| 'Reckless' | 'Reckless' |
| A spokesman said no-one was injured but the family were badly shaken by the ordeal. | A spokesman said no-one was injured but the family were badly shaken by the ordeal. |
| Area Commander Michael McDonald said: "This was a particularly reckless and cowardly attack which could have had more serious consequences than fortunately we have. | Area Commander Michael McDonald said: "This was a particularly reckless and cowardly attack which could have had more serious consequences than fortunately we have. |
| "The presence of smoke alarms in the house undoubtedly gave the family the advanced warning they needed to allow them move away from the seat of the fire and most of the smoke. | "The presence of smoke alarms in the house undoubtedly gave the family the advanced warning they needed to allow them move away from the seat of the fire and most of the smoke. |
| "I am also very proud of the quick reactions of my officers and the neighbour who helped them rescue the children and I would ask other members of the public from neighbouring properties to contact us with any information they may have or if they noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area, so that we might bring those responsible to justice." | "I am also very proud of the quick reactions of my officers and the neighbour who helped them rescue the children and I would ask other members of the public from neighbouring properties to contact us with any information they may have or if they noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area, so that we might bring those responsible to justice." |