A petrol-bomb attack on the house of two elderly Protestant sisters in east Belfast was not sectarian, according to the Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Mr Joe O'Donnell.
A device was thrown through the living-room window of the home of Lila (73), and Greta (79) McLaughlin in Madrid Street at about 1 a.m. yesterday, starting a fire.
The two women, who were asleep, were rescued by fire officers after a police patrol spotted the fire and raised the alarm. The house is close to the nationalist Short Strand area. Mr O'Donnell, who condemned the attack, said nationalists were not responsible. "It would have been impossible for nationalists to carry out this attack from the Short Strand without being observed," he said.
Police have not established a motive for the attack but East Belfast DUP MLA Mr Sammy Wilson, of the DUP, said the incident was sectarian and called for the erection of a barrier between the Short Strand and adjoining Protestant areas.
Ms Lila McLaughlin said she had no idea who was behind the attack.
"We have no enemies," she said. "We are lucky to be alive."
Meanwhile, up to 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police at the junction of the Ballybeen and Newtownards roads, near Belfast, following the discovery of 1,200 milk bottles near the loyalist Ballybeen estate.
In Ballynahinch, Co Down, a 41-year-old man was yesterday recovering in hospital after being shot in the leg in a paramilitary-style attack. While in Strabane, Co Tyrone, a 19-yearold man suffered a suspected broken leg after being beaten by a masked gang. Meanwhile, police said no warning was given for several hours after a bomb was left outside a pub in the predominantly Catholic village of Cargan, Co Antrim, on Tuesday.
"The vehicle had been parked in Cargan several hours before a warning was received which in itself was unspecific," according to RUC Chief Supt Bob Foster.