Newtownards: Petrol bomb attacks may be linked to feud

A car was burnt out near Weavers Grange in Newtownards early on Monday morning

A house and a car have been targeted in petrol bomb attacks which may be linked to a drugs feud, police have said.

No-one was injured when a petrol bomb was thrown through a window of a house near Bristol Park, Newtownards, at 23:10 BST on Monday.

About half an hour later, a car parked near Weavers Grange was destroyed in a separate petrol bomb attack.

Police have recorded 37 incidents of intimidation, petrol bombs and arson related to the feud since 22 March.

Firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to put out Monday night's car blaze.

"At this stage, we are investigating a potential link between these incidents and the ongoing feud between rival drug gangs across Ards and North Down," a PSNI sergeant said.

In April, there were several days of disorder in the Ards and north Down area linked to a feud between rival loyalist factions previously associated with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Police have appealed for information about the latest incident.