Car thieves attack school

The school entrance was damaged in the attack

Car thieves have rammed the front door of a school in Lisburn in an attempt to set it on fire.

The vehicle crashed through the locked perimeter gates of St Patrick's High School at about 0400 GMT on Monday.

It was then driven at speed to try to break through into the foyer.

Parish priest Father Sean Rogan said he believed it was the latest attempt to burn the building down.

Fr Sean Rogan:"The car reversed in an attempt to break into the foyer of St Patrick's"

Fr Rogan said: "It was used to break through the locked gates of the school.

"Then having got inside, it reversed obviously at speed, in an attempt to break into the foyer of St Patrick's.

"The car then struck a metal handrail on a ramp at the entrance to the foyer."

He said the car became impaled on the handrail, it was then set alight and damage was caused to the front of the foyer.

The early morning attack came just a fortnight after arsonists destroyed two mobile classrooms.