Arson arrest after man 'threatened with knives'

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Firefighters were called to the flat after police arrived at the scene on Friday night

A Belfast building was evacuated due to a suspected arson attack after police arrived to investigate a claim of a knife threat.

Officers were called to a flat on the Antrim Road at about 21:30 BST on Friday after receiving a report a man was threatened by a gang, some of whom had knives.

After arriving at the scene, officers "noticed that the property was on fire", a police statement said.

Firefighters were called and a 46-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson endangering life.

No-one was injured during the fire and the suspect remains in police custody.

The police have appealed to witnesses or anyone with CCTV or other footage of the scene to contact detectives.