Coleraine: Woman slept in living room as petrol bomb hit window

Image caption, A window was smashed and scorch damage caused to the front door of the house at Mossvale Park in Coleraine

A woman was asleep in the living room of a house in Coleraine, County Londonderry, when the property was attacked with petrol bombs.

Two devices were thrown at the property at Mossvale Park shortly after midnight on Thursday.

The woman lives in the house with her children who are 13, 17 and 21.

They were not injured but, police said, they had been left "badly shaken". It is understood to be the third time the house has been targeted.

A window was smashed and scorch damage was caused to the front door.

Image caption, A number of people who were in the house were not physically injured

It is believed to be the sixth petrol bomb attack in the town since 24 April.

'Reckless attacks'

"These reckless attacks are not wanted by anyone and do nothing but cause harm and damage to the local community who we know just want to live in peace," Ch Insp Sinead McIldowney said.

She said attacks of this nature could result in devastating consequences and were completely unacceptable.

"I will again stress that people engaging in this type of criminal behaviour are risking not only their own safety, but they also face the possibility of a criminal conviction which can have life changing consequences," she said.

The police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.