Detectives are continuing enquiries following three incidents in the Kilmarnock area last night.
The first incident occurred around 7.45pm outside Crosshouse Hospital, when a 39-year-old woman was found injured in the car park. She received medical care but she died at the scene.
The second incident occurred twenty minutes later on Portland Street, where a 24-year-old woman had been stabbed. Emergency services attended and she was taken to Crosshouse hospital where she later died.
A further incident, a fatal road crash, occurred on the C50, a road between the B7036 and the A76. Emergency services attended but the 40-year-old male driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family relatives have been made aware.
Enquiries carried out so far have indicated that the incidents were linked and an investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances of what happened.
Officers are not looking for anyone else as part of their investigation and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain said: “A number of locations remain cordoned off as officers continue to conduct enquiries. We are working to confirm the full circumstances of what has happened. If anyone has any information which could assist our enquiries, please do contact us.
“Understandably, people will be shocked by what has happened. We are still in the process of establishing the full circumstances, however, I would like to reassure people that there is no wider threat to the community. Officers will be on patrol and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.
Local diversions are in place as a number of areas remain cordoned off in the town centre and ear on the road between the B7036 and A76.
If anyone has any information which could assist this investigation, please do contact police on 101.