A woman remains in a critical condition in hospital after she was attacked and set on fire at her home in Clondalkin in Dublin yesterday morning.
The attack happened at a house in the Oak Downs estate, which has now been secured.
A garda source described it as an horrific and frightening attack.
They believe the attack was targeted and deliberate, and suspect it could be drugs related.
Gardaí say they are working to identify those behind the attack.
The woman, who is in her 40s, sustained severe burns to her face and body.
The man, who sprayed petrol on her and set it alight, is believed to have escaped on a motorbike.
A man who was in the house at the time suffered burns to his hands trying to extinguish the flames on the woman. He was also treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
He has over 20 previous convictions and has previously been threatened by criminals.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he is shocked by "this horrific and vicious attack" and has appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
'Frightening sense of depravity'
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said there is an "epidemic" in relation to violence against women in this country.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, he said he is horrified at the "horrific, frightening, vicious attack" in Clondalkin yesterday, which has had a "devastating impact on the community".
Mr Harris said there can be "no place or no tolerance for such level of depravity and violence in our society or in our communities".
No place for 'such level of depravity or violence' in society - Harris
Local Sinn Féin councillor William Carey said people in Clondalkin are shocked.
"The whole estate, the whole area here is in quite a lot of shock," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"Nobody expected anything like this to be happening in our area. It's quite an idyllic type of estate ... a lot of hardworking people, and to have this happening on the doorstep is completely shocking."
Mr Carey said that this level of violence was unexpected for the area.
"The sense of depravity involved in this attack is quite frightening and it has people doubly shocked at the level of violence because this is not the type of thing we would expect here," he said.
"I wouldn't say this would be an issue we would expect to see or hear within the area. It's not a big crime area, there's not an awful lot that would happen.
"At our recent Resident's Association, we had a local community garda in attendance and he described incidents that are occurring in the area as very low key, and very, very little to be concerned with."
Mr Carey described locals as being "angry", "annoyed" and "shocked" following the incident.
Gardaí can be contacted at Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
