BBC News | NORTHERN IRELAND | Church destroyed in 'suspicious' fire

The Royal Ulster Constabulary have said they are treating a fire in Portadown, County Armagh as suspicious.

The fire, which destroyed a Presbyterian church near the town, was reported by a parishioner, who noticed flames coming from the building at about 0230 BST on Tuesday.

Fire crews spent the night bringing the blaze at New Mills Presbyterian Church under control.

The minister of the church, Reverend Gordon Best, said the community would be shocked by what had happened.

Community relations are very good in this area and we would never have imagined anything like this happening

Reverend Gordon Best

"By the time I got to the church it was completely ablaze.

"It is just completely gutted now," he said.

"There will be a tremendous sense of shock as it is a very close knit community.

Mr Best said that community relations in the area were good and that the attack was completely unexpected.

"Community relations are very good in this area and we would never have imagined anything like this happening."


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