TWO families had a lucky escape after one house was petrol bombed and a shot fired through next door's front window, during an attack in Stepney.
Six people - including three young children were asleep - when firebomb was thrown through their living room window in Antill Terrace, at around 11.50pm on Wednesday.
Detectives believe a 'road rage' incident may have led to the attack.
Earlier on Wednesday, a man leaving the Antill Terrace address was knocked off his bike by a man driving a black VW Golf.
The pair fought and the driver suffered a cut head before leaving the scene.
He is described as black and in his late 20s or early 30s.
Two and a half hours later a gunshot was heard, shortly before the petrol bomb was thrown.
Sleeping upstairs were a couple and three boys aged one month, three and five.
The three year old suffers from cerebral palsy.
A relative, aged 24, was sleeping downstairs in the lounge where the bottle was thrown.
Police called to investigate found a bullet hole in next door's front window, and a round on the floor.
Det Insp Stewart Garrick, from Tower Hamlets CID, said: "These cowardly attacks have needlessly threatened the lives of the occupants of two addresses.
"Clearly a strong line of inquiry is that the shooting and arson could be linked to the earlier altercation involving a car driver, especially as we now know he had allegedly threatened to shoot the cyclist.
"It is essential that anyone with information does make it known, as this could so easily have resulted in a murder inquiry."
Anyone who can assist can contact detectives at Limehouse CID on 020 7275 4772.
