Police appeal after sectarian attacks

There were a number of sectarian attacks overnight in north Belfast, police said today.

Police are appealing for information after several cars and houses were damaged in a crime spree which began at about 11pm last night.

Officers said early indications were that the attacks were sectarian and connected.

The PSNI confirmed a Peugeot 406 car was destroyed by a petrol bomb and three houses were damaged by paint bombs at Cliftondene Crescent.

Shortly after that the windows of a Rover car were broken with stones and paint was thrown over two houses at Abbeydale Park in the lower Ballysillan area.

North Belfast police, who are appealing for information on the incidents, confirmed another two houses at Ligoniel Road and a home at Summerdale Park were damaged by paint bombs.

After midnight a BMW car at Hazelwood park in Newtownabbey was destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Glengormley, petrol bombs were thrown at two cars.

Police said the incidents were not believed to be linked to the other crime spree in the city.

Shortly before 12.40am a Peugeot 106 car was destroyed by a petrol bomb at Farmley Gardens, while a Mitsubishi car nearby on the same street failed to ignite.

Officers said three youths wearing baseball caps may have been involved.