NIFRSAn elderly woman has been taken to hospital after a house was set on fire in Antrim during the early hours of Tuesday.
Police received a report that a property in Rathglynn was set alight at about 03:20 GMT.
The woman, who is in her 70s, was inside the property at the time of the incident. She was taken to hospital for treatment to burns to her hands and smoke inhalation following the incident.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: “The property was significantly damaged and at this stage, the incident is being treated as arson with intent.”
Neighbours told BBC News NI that the daughter and son-in-law of the woman in her 70s tried to rescue her from the fire.
The woman, aged in her 40s, was treated for both smoke inhalation and injuries to her hands.
The man, aged in his 40s, was also treated for smoke inhalation.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) dealt with the fire using four appliances.
NIFRS said: “Firefighters rescued one casualty from the property and they were transferred to the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service”.
‘Absolutely terrifying’
NIFRSSDLP councillor Roisin Lynch condemned the incident, describing it as “terrifying” for the woman involved.
“This must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for this woman and I can’t begin to imagine why anyone would target the home of an older person in this way,” Lynch said.
“People in this area are shocked that this has happened on their doorsteps and that a member of their community was placed in harm’s way.
“I would urge anyone with any information about this incident to come forward to police.”
Meanwhile, two people have escaped injury after a petrol bomb was thrown at a property in Ballymena on Monday night. Police don’t believe the two incidents are related.
