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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.

Suspected link to drugs

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 ���˿��� 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 ���˿��� 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.