Police are appealing for information after several shots were fired at a house before a car was set on fire outside a nearby property trapping five people inside.
The two incidents, which police are investigating if they are linked, happened in Larne in the early hours of Friday morning.
Shortly before 12.30am, police received a report that a number of shots had been fired at a house in the St John’s Place area.
A short time later at around 1.05am a car had been set on fire in the nearby Hampton Crescent area trapping five people inside the property.
Emergency services attended and the occupants were evacuated safely.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “It is believed that windows on the vehicle had been smashed and a petrol bomb had been thrown inside.
“This is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life and enquiries are ongoing.
“I am appealing to anyone with any information on either attack to contact police on 101 quoting reference 26 of 16/08/24.”
Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly said:
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable in our community. The individuals responsible represent no one but themselves and must be held accountable for their reckless actions.”
DUP councillor Andrew Clarke told the BBC 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.
A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
