Cork metal plant blaze 'suspicious'

Gardaí in Cork are treating a massive overnight fire at a metal plant in the city as suspicious.

Several fire brigade units fought the blaze at the Cork Metal Company on Dublin Hill for around seven hours.

A garda spokesman from Cork’s Mayfield station said: “We are treating it as suspicious. A security man heard an explosion and saw two youths running away from the scene.”

Gardaí said huge flames leapt more than 100 feet into the air, leaving the building completely gutted.

Officers confirmed no-one was injured in the fire and the site had been preserved for forensic examination.

The large black plume of smoke was seen all over the city, and from as far away as Ballincollig.