Two suspected petrol bomb attacks in Glenrothes are being treated as attempted murder, police have confirmed.
A 16-year-old boy is being treated for serious injuries after two houses were targeted in a case of wilful fire-raising late on Tuesday night.
A property in Alexander Road was hit at 11.30pm and 10 minutes later a house in nearby Adrian Road was reported to be ablaze.
The injured teenager from the house in Adrian Road is being treated at Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
It is understood a number of other children in the same home were uninjured.
The fire is thought to have started in a bedroom and locals claimed some sort of petrol bomb was thrown through a window.
As emergency crews continue their painstaking investigation, police stressed the incident could easily have proved fatal.
They confirmed they were following several positive lines of enquiry.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Cunningham of Fife CID said: “This incident is being treated as attempted murder and showed a blatant disregard for the safety of a number of people and children within the local community.
“There is a significant resource from local and national policing dedicated to this investigation and we are progressing several positive lines of enquiry.”
He added: “There is absolutely no doubt that this fire could have potentially been fatal as there were several people within both properties at the time.
“I would urge anyone who was in either the Adrian Road or Alexander Road area about 11.30pm yesterday, and saw anything suspicious, to get in touch with us as soon as possible and we are particularly interested in speaking to residents who have private CCTV.”
Community Inspector Joanne McEwan of Glenrothes police station said officers would be providing reassurance in the area.
“Incidents such as this will of course cause concern within the local community but I would urge people not to be alarmed,” she said.
“Residents will notice local officers in the area providing a visible presence over the coming days to support the community and provide reassurance.
“I would urge local people to speak to officers should they have any concerns or information that may be relevant to this incident.”
Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
