The police say they have not yet established a link, but it is one of the possibilities they are probing. Oswald Davis, otherwise called 'Joshie', a 55-year-old painter from Hope Flats, died while trying to escape from his burning house.

Davis' house was one of six destroyed in an early-morning attack. Police reports are that just after 3 a.m., the houses were firebombed.

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning Violet Nicely, 43, otherwise called 'Faye', and Courtney Campbell, 53, otherwise called 'Jango', both from Hope Flats, were killed by gunmen.

Police reports are that about 7 a.m., gunmen entered the premises and demanded that Campbell open the door. He refused and the men kicked open the door immediately and fired shots, hitting Nicely several times and killing her on the spot.

Campbell then ran through a back door and was chased by the gunmen, who shot him several times, also killing him on the spot.

The Papine police are investigating.