DETECTIVES are treating a fire at a derelict leisure centre in Derry as arson.
Neighbourhood PSNI officers on patrol saw a large plume of smoke coming from the roof of the vacant building – in Richill Park.
They immediately contacted the NIFRS, who attended and have confirmed the cause of the blaze was deliberate ignition.
Included in the damage as a result of the blaze was equipment inside the building.
The Fire and Rescue Service said the fire at the disused former Lisnagelvin leisure centre in the Waterside on Thursday was started deliberately.
Young people had repeatedly been breaking into the site and children had been seen going into the building on the morning of the fire, according to locals.
Derry City and Strabane District Council says it will work with statutory agencies to re-secure the site to prevent any further incursions.
Five fire appliances attended the blaze on Thursday and extinguished the blaze.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used one jet to extinguish the fire.
The incident was dealt with by 5.58 pm and the scene was later handed over to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The leisure centre, which opened in 1980, closed in 2015 and has been derelict ever since.
The council said it was made aware of a fire at the vacant site of the former Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre on Thursday afternoon.
A spokesperson said the council would continue to work with the relevant statutory agencies and would put into place plans to re-secure the site.
Police are appealing to anyone with information, or who was in the area around this time, or prior to 4pm, and saw any suspicious activity or has footage, including dash cam, to get in touch.
The number to call with information is 101, quoting 1088 of 01/08/24, or make a report online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ always 999 in an emergency.
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