Latest: Car explodes after gas cylinder ignited ‘deliberately’ outside Cookstown

Three fire crews, from Cookstown and Dungannon, were called to the scene but a spokesperson said “the LP gas cylinder had already ignited before the arrival of firefighters”.

It is understood no-one was injured in the incident, but it “is being treated as a deliberate fire”.

A spokesperson for NIFRS said: “Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a call at 11:04pm to a report of a LP gas cylinder of a car igniting at the Killygarvan Road, Sandholes area of Cookstown last night (Wednesday 23rd September).

“Two Fire Appliances from Cookstown Fire Station and one from Dungannon Fire Station were deployed to the scene. The LP gas cylinder had already ignited before the arrival of Firefighters to the scene. The car was damaged due to the incident but no one was injured.

“The incident finished at 11.53pm and is being treated as a deliberate fire.”

Police were informed of the incident by NIFRS at around 11.10pm.

An eye witness told the Mail the road was closed while emergency services dealt with the “car explosion”.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.”