Vehicle is set alight outside nationalist social club

A CAR was set on fire outside a nationalist social club in Co Antrim last night.

The Fire Service was called to deal with the burning vehicle outside St Comgall’s Recreation Club in Larne.

It was the second arson attack on a car in the town at the weekend.

Initial reports mistakenly suggested it had been a bomb after an explosion was heard, which may have been the petrol tank blowing up.

One fire appliance attended the incident on Victoria Road, and the blaze was extinguished, a spokeswoman for the Fire and Rescue Service said.

An Ambulance Service spokesman said that they had not been required to attend the incident.

Meanwhile, a man is recovering in hospital following a paramilitary style assault and arson attack in Larne. The victim was beaten inside his house in Argyll View at 12.40am on Saturday.

A car was destroyed by fire in the attack and the windows of two others were damaged.

A number of homes were evacuated during the incident.

A PSNI spokesman said: “Whilst these injuries are not life threatening, this was a brutal and horrific attack.

“It is yet another example of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence.”

Detective Sergeant Peter Crothers appealed to anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or have information which could assist with police enquiries to contact detectives at Larne Criminal Investigation Branch on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 51 22/07/17.