Church wrecked in arson attack

A Protestant Church was gutted in an arson attack in north Belfast today.

The inside of Whitehouse Presbyterian Church on the Shore Road was destroyed in the fire which was discovered just before 4am.

Six lorries in an adjoining motor dealership were also damaged.

Police do not yet know how the fire was started. However, a spokesman confirmed officers are treating it as suspicious.

The Reverend Liz Hughes, the church’s minister, said the attack will come as a terrible shock to the whole community.

“It was a dreadful shock to get this news in the early hours of this morning and just to come down and see the church in the state it’s in,” she said.

“Of course we don’t know what the cause is but this is a church where the people all work together, they all care for one another, they all care for their church building, even the thought of telling some of them, I am finding difficult right now.”