Police appeal for information after suspected arson attack at former site of Cabin Hill school

The fire is being treated as deliberate ignition

No injuries were reported
Author: Tara GriffithsPublished 17th Feb 2026

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Police have issued an appeal for information following a suspected arson attack at the former site of a historic school.

A small blaze was discovered at a derelict building at the old Cabin Hill site in east Belfast on Sunday.

A police spokesperson said: "We received a report at around 6.40pm on Sunday of a number of youths present on the derelict site of Cabin Hill on the Upper Newtownards Road.

"Officers attended the scene, where colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already present, extinguishing a small fire which had been started in one of the derelict buildings to the rear of the site.

"Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

"However, the fire is being treated as deliberate ignition and our inquiries into this are ongoing."

They added: "We would appeal to anyone who has any information, or who saw anything suspicious in the area on Sunday evening, to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 1155 of 15/02/26."

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