Police are treating a fire that destroyed a north Belfast primary school as arson, they said today.
The blaze, discovered at 2.30am at Whitehouse Primary School in Newtownabbey caused extensive damage.
Police said fires were started in a number of locations in the grounds of the school based on the Doagh Road. Nearby homes had to be evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze in the early hours.
One estimate said up 75 per cent of the school had been seriously damaged and police are currently examining the scene.
Fire and rescue services mounted a major operation last night to control the blaze. They successfully prevented it spreading to properties near the school.
Fire Service area commander Chris Kerr said: "Such was the strength of the wind and the ferocity of the blaze that fire was spreading through trees and large amounts of burning embers were falling on property around the area, " he told the BBC. "We had to ask the police to evacuate some residents for their safety. Sadly, the early indications are that this fire has been deliberate."
Police, who have since confirmed the fire was caused deliberately, have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
School principal David McConkey said the attack was “absolutely devastating” for the school. “Dreadful day for the school in terms of the damage that’s been done to the building and the resources within it.”