Pensioners 'could have been killed' in Tyrone blaze

Police trying to establish whether arsonists were behind a blaze at a nursing home in Cookstown, Co Tyrone today said pensioners could have been killed.

Inspector Eamon Foy said: “The fire caused extensive damage to the laundry and the adjacent kitchen.

“A number of residents had to be evacuated to adjoining accommodation. Obviously, for those elderly people it would have been a very distressing experience.

“If this has been malicious, and it will be confirmed later on by forensic examination, we have to condemn that.”

Urging anyone with information about the blaze to contact police, Mr Foy added: “We would like to bring these people quickly to justice.

“This sort of activity could have ended up quite tragically with people losing their lives or seriously injured.”