Police treat blaze as attempted murder

POLICE have launched an inquiry into the attempted murder of three people who were rescued from a blazing building.

Firefighters were called to the fire at a mid-terraced flat in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire just before midnight on Sunday.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said the entrance to the property in Elm Street had been badly damaged in the incident.

The victims – two women and a man – were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at the scene.

Detective Inspector David Tassie from the Hamilton CID said: "It is extremely fortunate that no-one was seriously injured in this incident. However, the householders have had to leave their home and reside elsewhere temporarily.

"It's imperative we trace whoever is responsible for this attack and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious at the time of the incident to contact us as a matter of urgency."