by Gráinne Connolly
Four people including a 17 year old and 5 year old have escaped injury, following an arson attack on a house in Magherafelt, which police are treating as a hate crime.
It happened in the Leckagh Walk area shortly before 3.20am this morning.
Police say a tyre was placed against the front door of a house and was set alight.
A man and woman were inside the property with their two children during the incident, but were not injured.
The blaze resulted in extensive damage to the door and caused scorch damage to the hallway and an upstairs bedroom.
The 5 year old was asleep at the time, in a bedroom adjacent to the room damaged.
The PSNI says enquiries are still ongoing.
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