Burns Victims Critical After Firebomb

A rural firebomb attack is being treated as a murder attempt by the police.

Two men are in a critical condition following a petrol bomb attack at their home in County Tyrone.

A 19-year-old man and his father were injured in the incident at Church Hill Cottages in Caledon, which happened on Saturday evening.

Neighbours fought to get them out of the house after it burst into flames but Ashley Houston, aged 39, and his 19-year-old son Jonny sustained severe burns in the fire which it is believed was started by a petrol bomb being thrown.

Neighbours were alerted to what had happened and two of them threw water on the father and son to try to extinguish the flames.

Both victims were initially taken to Craigavon Hospital but have now been moved to the burns unit at the Royal Hospital in Belfast.

Three fire crews from Armagh and Dungannon fought the blaze at the bungalow at Church Hill Road in the village. The house has been extensively damaged in the blaze and slight damage was also caused to neighbouring houses.

Forensic teams from both the fire and rescue service and the police were at the scene today to carry out follow up investigations.

Detectives have said their investigation is still in its early stages because they need to hear from the victims and due to their serious injuries that is not possible.

However, they are treating the incident as attempted murder.

Local UUP MLA Tom Elliot said there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour in the village.

He said: "People are living in fear after this man and his son have had this experience," he said.

"It is probably only a matter of time before someone is killed in this sort of attack."

Meanwhile, the older man was originally said to be in a stable condition but has now been described as being critically ill too.

(BMcC)