Fires were started and flammable liquid poured into an art room and corridor at Our Lady and St Patrick's College in Kingsway.

A petrol bomb was also thrown into the building during the attack, which took place at about 0045 BST on Saturday.

Patrick McAlinden: "Knock-on effect"

Vice Principal Patrick McAlinden said the knock-on effect for pupils was worrying.

"It seems senseless to be honest," he said.

"One of my major concerns is that because it is an art room I think we may have had some examination work in there.

"My concern is to see what kind of damage has been done there - obviously pupils may suffer from this."

Minor damage

Meanwhile, a house in Lisburn in County Antrim was also attacked with a petrol bomb during the night.

Minor damage was caused at the rear of the house in Tonagh Drive in an attack at about 0155 BST on Saturday.

I was lying in bed at about six o'clock when I heard the windows coming in

Crumlin Road resident

A neighbour extinguished the fire and said a petrol bomb had ignited at the rear door causing minor damage.

In separate incidents, three windows were smashed at an elderly person's home on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast just after 0600 BST on Saturday.

The householder, who did not want to be identified, said he had been expecting such an attack after the homes of two Protestant pensioners in nearby Cambrai street were attacked on Friday.

"I was lying in bed at about six o'clock when I heard the windows coming in," he said.

Windows were smashed on the Crumlin Road

"Bricks were coming through the windows at the front of the house.

"The car drove away down the Crumlin Road and that was it - it happens all the time, it is a regular occurrence around here. It is three of four times it has happened to me."

In Larne, County Antrim, windows were broken in Argyle Avenue and a boulder was used to smash a window at a house on the Old Glenarm Road.