A community was once again left in shock after waking up to another police cordon in a matter of weeks.
Police and Merseyside fire and rescue service were called to reports of a fire, at around 1.35am on Wednesday, July 5 at a house on Huyton House Road in Huyton. At the scene they found that four people had been evacuated from the property, including two adults and two children.
A police cordon was immediately put in place and remained there through Wednesday morning as police and forensics carried out their enquiries. Forensics officers could be seen going to and from the house, which was visibly damaged, taking pictures.
READ MORE: Home where Joseph Holland found dead set on fire hours before his funeral
This is the second cordon in the same location in a matter of weeks. Police were called last month following reports of a concern for safety. It was later confirmed that Joseph Holland, 25, was stabbed to death and arrests were made.
Floral tributes can still be seen to the 25-year-old on a patch of grass, just outside the cordon. The community was visibly shocked on Wednesday as they woke to find the small cordon in place.
Passers-by could be seen shaking their heads, as one woman hugged her daughter closer as they passed. One man told the ECHO it was "crazy", adding: "I knew something bad was going to happen."
A woman, passing by, said: "The world is getting worse. Kids live there."
Merseyside Police said they believe two men approached the ground floor window of the house and used a brick to smash it before pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight. One man was rushed to hospital with smoke inhalation.
The suspects are believed to have left on bikes in the direction of Liverpool Road. Police have confirmed they believe the attack was targeted.
One woman, who lives nearby, said she didn't see anything but that it was "worrying" to see the police activity just weeks after the last incident.
Detective Inspector James Rotheram said: "This was a shocking attack on a family home and it is only by sheer luck that nobody was injured or even killed. We know the community will be rightly shocked by what happened and we also know that they may have the answers to what happened and who was involved.
"We are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry but I would ask for anyone who knows anything to contact us as a matter of urgency. We are particularly asking for any taxi or delivery drivers who have a dashcam and were in the area to check their footage to see if they have captured anything significant to contact us.
"Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 23000602899."
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
