![\"Crawford](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Fire-at-Crawford-House-Community-Enterprise-CentreGwent-StreetToxtethLiverpool.jpg\")
Crawford House Community Enterprise Centre in Toxteth(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nPolice are treating both attacls as deliberate and say they are ‘keeping an open mind’ about the motiveCrawford House Community Enterprise Centre in Toxteth(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
Volunteers at a Toxteth charity say they are “baffled” as to why their community centre was ‘deliberately’ set on fire twice in the space of 24 hours. Angus Chukuemeka, one of the directors of Crawford House Community Enterprise Centre, this week found himself facing the aftermath of the fires<\/a> at the place he has dedicated two decades of his life to.<\/p>\n Angus, 86, who moved to Liverpool<\/a> to study engineering during the Nigerian Civil War<\/a>, said the centre provides “vital support” for people from all backgrounds including those arriving in the city from overseas.<\/p>\n But the community was shaken this week when the centre on Gwent Street was ‘deliberately’ torched twice within 24 hours.<\/a><\/p>\n Emergency services were first called shortly after 9.15am on Monday, November 17, following reports of a fire in a ground-floor room. A window had been smashed and, by the time Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service<\/a> arrived, the blaze had burned out. No one was inside. Police carried out house-to-house enquiries and spoke to potential witnesses.<\/p>\n Then, at around 7.45am on Tuesday, November 18, Merseyside Police<\/a> were alerted again. MFRS crews were damping down a second fire at the same building. As with the first incident, no one was present, and officers now believe both fires were started deliberately.<\/p>\n For Angus, who has been a part of the centre<\/a> since it opened in 2005, the news was devastating. He told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cI really cannot understand why somebody in their right mind would contemplate destroying such a centre offering vital services to the community.<\/p>\n “Our members of staff are so good and work so hard. It’s so baffling. Nobody expected it. We never anticipated the person would come back a second day and try to set it on fire again.”<\/p>\n The centre sees around 1,000 people every week and is run by a small team of eight volunteers alongside several members of staff. It offers vocational training, welfare support, English classes for people whose first language is not English, programmes for the unemployed and even space for weddings, meetings and community events.<\/p>\n Angus said the centre was created for reisdents of all religions and backgrounds to “help people improve their life choices”.<\/p>\n He said: “There weren\u2019t many facilities available when I moved here in the 60s. People were friendly and, although there weren\u2019t many migrants, those who settled respected the culture and were welcomed. That\u2019s what we try to offer here – somewhere people can feel comfortable and belong.<\/p>\n “We’re in the heart of the community. Staff speak various languages. People don\u2019t have to travel far and it\u2019s not as regimental as the services delivered by the public sector. Our centre feels familiar to people.”<\/p>\n Some parts of the building have now been boarded off while damage is repaired but Angus insists the centre will remain open as normal. He said: “The person’s intention must have been to cause as much damage as possible but fortunately they didn\u2019t succeed. It hasn\u2019t stopped us from operating.”<\/p>\n Merseyside Police confirmed an investigation into both attacks is underway.<\/p>\n Detective Inspector Natalie Charlesworth said: \u201cWe believe both fires were started deliberately and are keeping an open mind about the motives of the offenders involved.<\/p>\n “We have increased patrols of Local Policing and Response officers in the area to reassure the community and are undertaking enquiries including exploring CCTV to identify those responsible.<\/p>\n \u201cTo set any part of a building on fire close to residential properties and business premises is extremely reckless and clearly puts anyone in the vicinity at serious risk.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are determined to find those responsible and enquiries are ongoing.<\/p>\n “As part of our investigation, we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Gwent Street and Upper Warwick Street overnight from Sunday into Monday, and Monday into Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you saw anything at all, it could prove vital to our enquiries so tell us what you know and we will take action.<\/p>\n “If you were driving in the area, please review your dashcam footage in case you captured those responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n If you have any information or footage on either incident, please contact Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook<\/a> quoting incident reference 25000942004 or 25000944130<\/p>\n You can also report information via the website: https:\/\/www.merseyside.police.uk\/ro\/report\/ocr\/af\/how-to-report-a-crime\/<\/a> or call 101.<\/p>\n![\"Boarded](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763817017_363_0_Fire-at-Crawford-House-Community-Enterprise-CentreGwent-StreetToxtethLiverpool.jpg\")
Boarded up window at Crawford House Community Enterprise Centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Angus](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_Angus-Chukuemela.jpg\")
Angus Chukuemeka (middle right) has been a part of the centre since it opened in 2005<\/p>\n