Five to face Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on arson charges on police officer homes

DETECTIVES have charged five people as part of an investigation into a spate of arson attacks on the homes of serving police officers.

The attacks took place between April and July last year at addresses in Portadown, Banbridge and Gilford.

The officers’ homes and vehicles were attacked and in some cases destroyed.

Four men and a woman are face Craigavon Magistrates’ Court this morning on arson and drugs-related offences later.

The woman is 21 while the others are aged 17, 20, 36 and 51.

They are facing a number of charges including conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to cause an explosion.

They were among nine people detained by police on Tuesday as part of the investigation.

Two of the nine arrested – women aged 27 and 42 – have been charged with drugs offences and are expected to appear at the same court next month.

The remaining suspects, two men aged 26 and 41, are still being questioned.

The arrests took place in Larne, Lisburn, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon.

Detectives also searched properties in counties Antrim, Armagh and Down on Tuesday morning and took away a number of items for examination.