Larne Properties Damaged In Petrol Bomb Attacks

Two properties have been damaged in Larne after petrol bombs were thrown on Sunday night.

Police received reports between approximately 11 and 11.15pm that petrol bombs had been thrown at two homes, and windows smashed and graffiti daubed at another.

At the first property in the St John's Place area two windows were smashed and a petrol bomb caused scorch and smoke damage to the living room.

An upstairs bedroom at a second property in the Elizabeth Avenue area a window has been smashed a petrol bomb and scorch and smoke damage was caused. No-one was in the house at the time.

Detective Inspector Crothers said:

"The third report was made regarding a property in Cedric Street. Two windows had been smashed, and graffiti sprayed at the front of the house. A family, including children, were present at the time.

"The attack on the property in Cedric Street is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. There is no place in our society for such behaviour, and it's particularly shocking that this type of attack should be carried out while young children are present.

"We are grateful that no-one was injured, though we are very aware that we could potentially have been dealing with much more serious consequences this morning."

Detective Inspector Crothers continued: "At around 4am this morning, Monday 22nd July, we received a further report that the resident of a property in Hillmount Gardens had been assaulted by one of two men who tried to entered his property with what he believed to be a gun. He was hit in the face by one of the men, sustaining a minor injury, before the men made off in different directions. He did not require medical attention.

"We are investigating a potential link between these incidents and are appealing to anyone who was in the named areas and may have relevant information, including dash-cam or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1727 of 21/07/24."