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Families flee burning cars terror Families flee burning cars terror
(about 2 hours later)
Vandals who set fire to cars forced young families out of their homes overnight in south Belfast. Vandals who set fire to cars forced families out of their homes overnight in south Belfast.
The Fire and Rescue Service was called to Jerusalem Street at about 0330 BST where four cars were burning.The Fire and Rescue Service was called to Jerusalem Street at about 0330 BST where four cars were burning.
Assistant Group Commander David Patton said householders were in great distress due to the heat and smoke in close proximity to their homes. Householders were in great distress due to the heat and smoke in close proximity to their homes, according to Assistant Group Commander David Patton.
He said it was fortunate that gas cylinders in a nearby vehicle did not explode. He said it was fortunate that gas cylinders in the back of a nearby vehicle did not explode.
Mr Patton said those responsible for the fires had earlier in the night smashed windows. They then returned to set the cars on fire. Mr Patton said those responsible for the fires had smashed windows and later returned to set the cars on fire.
A number of families and students were led to safety.A number of families and students were led to safety.
"I don't know what the people were thinking. They actually caused a lot of distress for all the young families as well as the students," he said. Distress
"This particular street is a lovely street," said Mr Patton.
"There's a good mixture of young families and young students living together side by side. This was a ridiculous act by some people in our society.
"They actually caused a lot of distress for all the young families as well as the students."
A woman whose daughter's vehicle was damaged told the BBC that her daughter rang her screaming in the middle of the night.
She said a total of 11 vehicles had been damaged.
"The news could have been a lot worse. It's ridiculous, but it's only property it can be replaced," she said.
"We don't actually know how badly damaged the car is."