“We can’t confirm that there was a blast but when we got to the scene there was billowing smoke and some ten vehicles were on fire,” said Gustaf Sandell of the local emergency services to daily Aftonbladet.

The fire started just before 4am on Thursday morning and the smoke soon spread from the garage to a residential building nearby.

Two people, a man and a woman, both residents in the house, had to be taken to hospital to receive medical attention.

Police believe that the unknown perpetrator may have torched one car in the garage, and that the fire spread to nearby vehicles.

Emergency services managed to gain control over the blaze and the fire was reportedly out by 4.30am.

Some of the inhabitants of the residential building have been able to return to their homes, but due to smoke contamination, some areas of the property remained evacuated.

Police have cordoned off the immediate area surrounding the site.

“Forensics will be carrying out an investigation as soon as possible,” said Nils Norling of the Skåne police to Aftonbladet.

TT/The Local/rm