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| Firebomb attacks on three stores | Firebomb attacks on three stores |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Firebomb attacks have caused a major blaze at a retail park in Boucher Road in Belfast and two city stores. | Firebomb attacks have caused a major blaze at a retail park in Boucher Road in Belfast and two city stores. |
| The Homebase store has been destroyed. More than 70 firefighters are tackling the blaze, which has spread to Reid's furniture store next door. | The Homebase store has been destroyed. More than 70 firefighters are tackling the blaze, which has spread to Reid's furniture store next door. |
| A second fire broke out in Smyth's toystore nearby. | A second fire broke out in Smyth's toystore nearby. |
| Fire officers have also dealt with a blaze at JJB Sports in Ann Street in Belfast City Centre overnight which badly damaged the shop. | Fire officers have also dealt with a blaze at JJB Sports in Ann Street in Belfast City Centre overnight which badly damaged the shop. |
| Keyholders in both areas have been asked to check their premises. | Keyholders in both areas have been asked to check their premises. |
| Fire crews were called to all three incidents at about 0200 GMT. | Fire crews were called to all three incidents at about 0200 GMT. |
| Group Commander William Cavanagh from the Fire Service said the fire at Boucher Road was extremely serious. | Group Commander William Cavanagh from the Fire Service said the fire at Boucher Road was extremely serious. |
| Divisional Officer Chris Kerr from the Fire Service said the blaze at Boucher road was very dangerous. | |
| "The crews were deployed inside Reid's and we had aerial appliances pumping water above the premises to stop that fire from spreading," he said. | |
| "At one stage, there was an explosion involving gas cylinders inside the Homebase area, which hampered firefighting efforts. | |
| "But again, all credit to those firefighters - their courage and professionalism resulted in the fire being confined to the Homebase store. | |
| "Although, it has been very, very badly damaged." |