Family to leave after attack

Petrol bomb attack caused extensive damage to the classroom

A Catholic family whose home was the target of a petrol bomb attack in Antrim have said they will have to move out of the area.

An elderly man was in the house when a device shattered a downstairs window of the house at Oaktree Drive in the Steeple estate, but did not ignite.

The family said it had lived in the predominantly loyalist estate for over 30 years and this had been the second time the house had been attacked.

The attack took place as petrol bombers targeted on two Catholic schols and an integrated college in County Antrim.

Police responded to an alarm at St McNissi's on the Christine Road in Newtownabbey shortly after 0200 BST.

A classroom window had been broken and a petrol bomb thrown in.

The classroom suffered extensive smoke and water damage.

Shortly afterwards, police discovered a fire on the Carnmoney Road in Newtownabbey.

A mobile classroom in St Mary's on the Hill school suffered scorch and smoke damage.

School Principal Patrick Kennedy said the attacks were a result of people being fed a diet of "hatred and bigotry".

Newtownabbey councillor John Blair condemned the attacks and appealed for witnesses to contact the police.

"These are particularly worrying to all local people at a time when tensions are already high in the community," he said.

Sean Neeson: Questions motivation of people who carried out attack

In a separate incident, damage was also caused to computer and sports equipment at Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus.

Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson, who represents the area in the Assembly, said the attacks on the school were "mindless".

"What we see damaged today was put there by the sacrifice of parents and other people who wanted integrated education here," he said.

Petrol bomb attack

A petrol bomb was thrown through a window of a mobile classroom.

The incidents are the latest in a series of arson attacks on schools and churches in County Antrim.

A Catholic church in Bushmills suffered scorch damage in a petrol bomb attack on Thursday night while a church in Cushendall was gutted by fire last month.

In a separate incident, a carpet wholesale shop in Lisburn was completely destroyed by fire.

A man is being questioned by the police following a fire at Seymour Dugan's furniture store in the County Antrim town.

The shop in Chapel Hill in the town was destroyed in the blaze early on Saturday.

The owner says he's devastated by the fire which gutted the building and wrecked stock worth £500,000.