There are claims an arson attack on a family home in Walton could be linked to an incident when a man was hit on the head with a pick-axe.
A 59-year-old man was taken to hospital after he was hit on the head with a pick-axe handle in Emery Street on January 26.
The man suffered a heart attack during the incident and died in hospital a few days later from natural causes.
The emergency services were called out to Emery Street, at around 5.30pm last night (Tuesday), following reports of a house fire.
Police are now treating the incident as arson.
A man, who did not want to be named, told the ECHO: "They smashed the window and then threw a petrol bomb into the front room.
"A woman was in the house at the time but she was ok.
"Fortunately there were no kids there at the time. This was a few hours before the Liverpool game and the area was busy and full of police.
"It was a brazen attack. I believe the firebombing is linked to the pick-axe incident in the same road."
Merseyside Police was unable to confirm whether the two incidents were linked.
The emergency services were called out to Emery Street at around 1.30pm on January 26 following reports of an incident in the street.
There were reports that children were seen "crying at the scene" when police arrived.
A 59-year-old man who was hit on the head with a pick-axe handle was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Two days later police said that the man had died in hospital. A post-mortem revealed he died from natural causes.
Following the incident last night, February 4, a Merseyside Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information after a suspected arson in Walton on Tuesday (4 February) evening.
"Just after 5.35pm, it was reported that a property was on fire.
"The fire was extinguished by a member of the public before the arrival of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
"There was minimal damage caused to the property.
"A joint investigation has been launched to establish the full circumstances, including forensic, CCTV and door-to-door enquiries.
"The incident is being treated as a case of deliberate ignition."
Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious that could help is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook.
You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 20000075864 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
