BBC News NI
BBCAn attack on a pub in Armagh on Monday evening was “brazen and disgraceful”, according to the MP for Newry and Armagh.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after The Toby Jug pub was set alight at about 20:55 BST on Monday.
Firefighters put out the blaze and two people were taken to Craigavon Area Hospital, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said.
The arrested man, who is 38, was also detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Social mediaSinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes told BBC News NI that this was a “brazen and disgraceful attack in relative broad daylight”.
“I’m sure the people in the pub and surrounding areas were terrified.”
“The fact that the fire service and PSNI acted so promptly should give some degree of comfort to the community,” he added.
In CCTV footage posted on social media a man can be seen walking along Irish Street with a plastic bag.
He takes what appears to be a petrol bomb out of it, walks across the road towards the bar and lights it before walking in.
He is then seen leaving the premises without it.
When people, including a woman and a young girl, then run out of the pub the man pulls what appears to be a knife from his pocket, before turning and walking away.
Breege Shaw has lived on Irish Street for 30 years.
After coming home from a meeting in Newry she saw the aftermath of the incident.
She told BBC News NI that there were two fire engines and police cordoned off the street at St Malachy’s church.
“I didn’t know what was happening. At the time the police just said it was a fire. But it is just very sad because this is a lovely street to live in.”
Justin McNulty is the SDLP Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Newry and Armagh.
He told BBC News NI that the incident was “shocking” and “horrific”.
“People are scared and for women and children to have had to flee in the manner they did is horrendous.”
