DETECTIVES are investigating a loyalist paramilitary link to attacks on two men who had their arms broken in Carrickfergus.
The first incident happened at a house in the Sunnylands Grove area of the Co Antrim town at around 10.20pm on Monday.
A gang of masked men broke in and assaulted a man with wooden baseball bats. He was taken to hospital for treatment on a suspected broken arm.
Then at around 10.30pm police received reports a large group of men forced their way into a house in Pinewood Avenue and set upon a man using hammers.
He was taken to hospital with two suspected broken arms.
Also at 10.30pm, a gang of masked men kicked in the front door of a third house in Knocklade.
They went in but later left with no reports of anyone being assaulted.
Detectives are investigating a link between the three incidents.
They have asked anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or who has any further information to come forward.