Police in County Londonderry are treating a fire at a car showroom and cafe on Carhill Road in Garvagh as arson. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service received the call at 4:30 BST on Wednesday. Sergeant Moore of the PSNI stated officers attended around 5am along with firefighters who extinguished the blaze.

Fire crews arrived to a well-developed fire involving the showroom, vehicles, and cafe premises. NIFRS western area commander David Doherty reported the building was completely gutted. Six cars were destroyed and four others damaged by heat and smoke.

The response peaked with 55 firefighters and six appliances from Maghera, Kilrea, Dungiven, Ballymoney, and Coleraine stations. Support came from an aerial ladder appliance at Northland Station, a command support unit at Strabane Station, and a water tanker at Dungiven Station.

Crews used firefighting jets and an aerial ladder jet. The incident came under control by 7:47am, with firefighters later addressing hotspots. Doherty noted hazards from cylinders, oils, and aerosols on site.

DUP councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan said two businesses were completely devastated, resulting in job losses. Car showroom owner Liam Rafferty confirmed the building requires full demolition and rebuilding.

Sergeant Moore appealed for witnesses, CCTV, or doorbell footage, asking people to contact police on 101 quoting reference 146 13/05/26.