Shots fired and five trapped by petrol bomb attack

A police car parked across the road with a street with a row of houses behind it. There is police tape across the road and another police car in the background

St John’s Place in Larne was cordoned off after the overnight shooting

Shots were fired at a house in Larne and five people were trapped inside another nearby home by a deliberate fire in two incidents that are believed to be linked.

Shortly before 00:30 BST on Friday police received a report that shots had been fired in St John's Place in the County Antrim town.

About 40 minutes later it was reported that a car had been petrol bombed in Hampton Crescent, starting a fire which trapped occupants in a property.

Five people were all helped to safety but police are treating the attack as arson with intent to endanger life.

DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke standing in front of a police car. He has dark, thinning hair and is wearing a black t-shirt

Cllr Andrew Clarke said it was the latest in a series of attacks in Larne

Firefighters helped to evacuate the property in Hampton Crescent.

"It is believed that windows on the vehicle had been smashed and a petrol bomb had been thrown inside," a detective sergeant said.

The BBC understands police are investigating a link between the two incidents.

Cllr Andrew Clarke, from the Democratic Unionist Party, said he believed a connection to drugs was “a live line of inquiry” being pursued by police.

He told BBC News NI there was a feeling of disappointment and frustration in the town following the attacks.

“There have been a number of incidents in the town over the past few weeks - there seems to just be an escalation," he said.

“There’s been property attacked, graffiti, vandalism, arson and now gunshots fired which is a worrying development.”

“There’s illegal activity, it’s affecting residents and it has to stop.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information on either incident to contact them.

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