THREE men are in hospital in a "stable condition" in what police have described as a "targeted attack" in the Stepps area of Glasgow.
A large fire and clouds of smoke were visible in images of the scene which was described by some onlookers as a "war-zone".
Officers responded to reports of three men being attacked in Frankfield Road and vehicles being set ablaze.
Footage has emerged of a man, appearing to be bleeding, walking in front of two vans set alight. The identity of the man in the video is not known,
Police said emergency services immediately attended alongside specialist units including the police helicopter and at 9.30pm on Sunday there remained a “significant police presence” in the area as part of ongoing enquiries.
Detective Superintendent Stephen Grant from Police Scotland said: “This was a brazen incident on Frankfield Road, involving a number of vehicles being set alight.
“A substantial police response followed the initial reports. This has given rise to speculation that the incident may have been connected to terrorism in some form. Whilst we are limited in what we can say in respect of the ongoing enquiry, what we can confirm at this time, is that this incident is not related to terrorism.”
Dedicated officers were analysing available CCTV footage and conducting door to door inquiries.
Det Supt Grant added: “For those living in the community of Cardowan, I can assure you that our officers are doing all they can to trace the persons responsible.
"A significant police presence will remain in the area as part of our ongoing inquiry. Please approach those officers with any information you may have.”
One picture showed what appears to be two burnt-out vans. Large numbers of police cars are also shown and cordons were put in place.
Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed it had received a number of calls on Sunday afternoon and "some patients" had been taken to hospital.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "We got called out to a van on fire. The incident has been handed over to the police."
One passer-by posted a picture on social media of what is reportedly Frankfield Road gridlocked by emergency vehicles, adding that it was "like a war zone".
An eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, said he saw two vans on fire with flames "as high as a house".
"I was washing my car and I saw high flames and smoke, then the fire brigade came."
He added that the area was "very nice" and that nothing like this had happened before.
A police spokesman earlier thought the disorder was "more likely to be rival gangs fighting" than anything related to terrorism.
He added: "I can confirm that there have been people injured, but I don't know what the extent of those injuries are."
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