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Teens injured in arson attack at family home

Damage inside the Craigavon home targeted in a petrol bomb attack on Thursday night. Picture by Mal McCann.
Damage inside the Craigavon home targeted in a petrol bomb attack on Thursday night. Picture by Mal McCann. Damage inside the Craigavon home targeted in a petrol bomb attack on Thursday night. Picture by Mal McCann.

There have been calls for an increase in neighbourhood policing resources after two teenagers were injured in a petrol bomb attack in Co Armagh.

A petrol bomb was thrown through the living room window at a house in the Lakelands area of Craigavon at around 11.30pm on Thursday, causing damage inside the property, where a mother and her two sons live.

Both males suffered injuries to their feet and police have appealed for information, saying that a group of up to four young people were spotted running from the scene.

Upper Bann UUP MLA Doug Beattie said the attack could have caused “serious injury or even death”.

“It is sheer luck that police are not beginning a murder investigation today,” he said.

“I’m totally disgusted at this. That’s an easy word to use, but this was an attempt to set fire to a house with three people inside. Anyone doing this must know this could have killed the occupants. I would urge those responsible to really think about their actions, and what they could have caused.”

Mr Beattie added that the incident highlighted the need for extra police officers “on the ground” in Craigavon, where in February a man was left fighting for his life after being shot in the head during a gun attack in the Carrigart Crescent area.

In December, six people, including two children, escaped injury when shots were fired at a house in Craigavon’s Lakeview Court.

“I would appeal for when the Executive gets up and running that we really look into the issue of neighbourhood policing,” Mr Beattie added.

“The neighbourhood policing team here has just 12 officers to cover a vast area, and this is allowing criminals to act with impunity.”