Petrol bomb attacks on three homes in Bangor and Newtownards linked to drugs feud

Pacemaker Press 29/03/23 Damaged caused to a block of flats in the Ballyferris walk area of Bangor. There have been further attacks on properties in County Down in a dispute between rival factions of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). Detectives said there were petrol bomb attacks on a house in Bangor and a block of flats in Newtownards. No one was injured in Tuesday evening's attacks. The police say they are the latest incidents in a row between two drug gangs. A series of attacks in recent days are believed to be linked. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Damaged caused to a block of flats in the Ballyferris walk area of Bangor. Credit: Pacemaker

Three more homes have been attacked with petrol bombs and bricks in North Down as part of a UDA feud, police have said.

The incidents happened at a house in the Ballyferris Walk area of Bangor, and a house at Glenbrook Road and a block of flats at Donaghadee Road in Newtownards on Tuesday evening.

No injuries were reported.

Police have linked the incidents to an ongoing feud between drugs gangs. It comes after police linked eight recent attacks on houses in North Down to a feud with the UDA. Two men have been charged and are to appear in court.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Officers received a report shortly before 9.20pm that a house had been petrol bombed in the Ballyferris Walk area of Bangor.

“We then received a second report at 9.30pm of damage being caused to a property in the Glenbrook Road area of Newtownards.

“It was reported at least two men threw bricks through the front window of the house and poured petrol onto the driveway.

“Police then received a third report at approximately 9.40pm of a petrol bomb attack at a block of flats in the Donaghadee Road area of Newtownards."

Earlier this week, police said eight properties in the North Down had been recently attacked in incidents they linked to a drugs feud within the UDA.

Appealing for information, they continued: “These incidents are linked to an ongoing feud between two rival drug gangs and police are following a number of lines of enquiry.

“Thankfully, no injuries were reported on Tuesday evening. I would also like to extend my thanks to our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who attended.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in these areas at the reported times, and saw anything suspicious, to call police on 101."

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