Family forced to leave their home after attack by a group of masked men in Newtownards
Detectives are appealing for information following three attacks – on two homes and a business – in the Newtownards area late on Sunday night, 26th July 2026.
Detective Sergeant Marley, from Criminal Investigations Department, said: “At around 10.50pm a number of masked men, dressed in dark clothing, attended a home in Bristol Park and smashed the front windows, door window and car windows with a hammer.
“The men also attempted to light a carton filled with accelerant, and threw it into the vehicle. It failed to ignite.
“A family, including children, were at home at the time of this attack and this must have been a terrifying experience.
“A short time later, at around 11.25pm, our colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service advised that they were in attendance at a fire in the Victoria Avenue area.
“Two vehicles – a bus and a car – had been totally burnt out and extensive damage had been caused to business premises. Fire Service confirmed that ignition was deliberate.
“Finally, just after 11.30pm, we received an emergency call that a number of masked men, wearing dark clothing, had smashed a living room window at a house in Weavers Grange with hammers, before throwing a petrol bomb inside, setting a sofa alight.
“Again, a family were at home at the time. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported but it’s completely unacceptable that members of our community should be placed at such grave risk.
“The residents of Weavers Grange do not want to return to the violence and intimidation they have suffered in the past.”
Detective Sergeant Marley continued: “We believe that these incidents are linked and are following a number of lines of enquiry.
“There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days as our investigation continues.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in these areas at the reported times, and saw anything suspicious, to call police on 101, quoting reference 1588 of 26/07/26.
“We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have relevant dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage on the route between these locations.”
Alternatively, you can contact police online using our witness appeal form at:§
https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at:
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Newtownards attacks utterly reprehensible, says Mathison
Alliance Strangford MLA Nick Mathison has condemned a series of attacks carried out in Newtownards late last night (26th July), calling the disregard shown for people’s lives and public property ‘utterly reprehensible’.
It has been reported that, in both of the two residential houses that were targeted, families and children were at home while the incidents took place.
Mr Mathison has said: “What we saw take place last night across the town was shocking. Between the damage to public property, and the lives put at risk in the homes that were targeted, this behaviour by masked individuals is utterly reprehensible and there is no excuse for it.
“Local residents are beyond fed up with this type of violence, done with no other purpose and to achieve nothing other than to terrify and exert coercive control over the community. We must all stand firmly united against it.
“We can only be glad no one was seriously injured, but my thoughts are with those impacted by the disorder and I want to thank the emergency services for their work to guarantee the safety of those in the vicinity of these incidents.
“I’d urge anyone with any information that could help the PSNI in their investigations to please get in touch with them, or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers.”
