Families escape petrol bomb attacks

Petrol bombers launched overnight attacks on two family homes in Northern Ireland as a baby and teenagers slept.

Devices were thrown at properties in New Meadow Row, Castlewellan, Co Down.

One caused scorch damage to the outside of a house where a woman and a teenager were in their beds.

The second was hurled at the home of a baby, three teenagers, a woman and her partner. It failed to ignite.

No-one was injured in the attacks just before 1.30am, and police do not suspect a sectarian motive.

Meanwhile, a family were evacuated from their home and three people arrested as trouble flared in north Belfast.

A woman suffered an epileptic fit and collapsed during fighting in the streets in the Carrick Hill area.

Police said a row had erupted between local residents. A car was set alight and pushed into the middle of the street during the disturbances.

Two ball bearings were fired through the front window of a house in a nearby district shortly afterwards. Detectives are probing the attack for a possible link, but do not suspect a sectarian motive.

Two of the three arrested – a man and a woman – were later released pending further reports, but one man was still being questioned.