Merseyside Police are investigating after a flat in Huyton was ‘targeted’ in two separate incidents
Fire damage to flat door(Image: Copyright Unknown)
A pregnant woman thought she was going to die after her flat door was covered in petrol and set on fire. The terrifying incident happened just 12 hours after someone set fireworks off outside her front door in what she described as a ‘targeted’ attack.
Merseyside Police first attended the address at Knowsley Heights in Huyton on the morning of May 14 after receiving a report fireworks had been set off at the woman’s address and caused extensive damage to the entrance door.
Approximately 12 hours later, police confirmed they attended the address again following a suspected arson attack and it is now investigating both incidents with CCTV being checked and enquiries ongoing.
Katie is pregnant and was at home with her mum, Pamela, when they heard loud bangs and noticed a smoky smell coming into the flat. Katie and Pamela are not their real names and the Liverpool ECHO agreed to change them to protect both identities.
Pamela said: “Someone set a big box of fireworks off and it sounded like gunfire. I hit the floor thinking someone was shooting the flat up.
“I thought we were going to die. It was terrifying.”
Katie said police attended and ensured the flat was made safe, but she was very shaken up and said the incident felt “targeted”. As a result, Katie went to stay with Pamela for a few hours.
Just before midnight on the same day, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service called police after someone allegedly poured petrol over the flat door and set it on fire. The family were notified and rushed back to the flat in a state of panic and saw the damage that was done.
As a result of the attacks, Katie was ‘absolutely terrified’ she would lose her baby and felt unable to return to the flat. She has now been rehomed after ongoing discussions with Livv Housing.
Fire damage directly outside flat(Image: Copyright Unknown)
A spokesperson for Livv Housing said: “We have been supporting [Katie] throughout this period, and she signed the agreement for her new home. This move was arranged prior to recent events.”
“We take the welfare of our customers extremely seriously and want to reassure them that we are working hard to keep them and their homes safe. Our teams carry out regular visits to Knowsley Heights, and the doors have been consistently confirmed as secure. The blocks are also covered by CCTV, which is actively monitored by our control room.
“We operate a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and are continuing to investigate this matter in partnership with statutory services, including the police. We hope [Katie] will feel safe and happy in her new home.”
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We attended reports of arson and fireworks being set off outside a flat door in Huyton last month. Just after 11.20am on 14 May, it was reported fireworks had been set off outside the front door of a flat in Knowsley Heights, causing damage to the door.
“A woman inside the address was not hurt but left shaken by the incident. At around midnight that night, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service called police following a suspected arson at the same property.
“It was a reported a suspect had poured petrol onto the flat door and set it alight. The flames had burnt out before the arrival of emergency services. There was no-one present in the address at the time.”
Detective Inspector Steve Street said: “These incidents are clearly concerning for the resident of the flat, as well as neighbours at Knowsley Heights.
“We are working with partners including the housing association and the local authority so that all appropriate measures are taken to protect residents and prevent further incidents.
“If you have any information on either incident, please contact police – any information, however small it may seem, could prove vital to our enquiries.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ or call 101 quoting incident reference 25000399686.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.