These are the latest Liverpool ECHO headlines this morning.
'Polite and hard working' pizza chef became terrorist bent on murder
The plans made behind the door of an ordinary flat in a quiet Liverpool suburb nearly ended in an atrocity that would have haunted the city forever.
For months, Emad Al Swealmeen plotted and schemed, ordering the lethal components of the device he later detonated in a taxi yards from the entrance of Liverpool Women's Hospital in Crown Street, Toxteth.
Thankfully, and seemingly by sheer luck, no-one died in the blast other than Al Swealmeen, and the only other person hurt was the taxi driver, Kirkdale dad David Perry. Mr Perry miraculously survived without life-changing injuries.
READ MORE: T axi driver can still smell the burning from Women's Hospital bombing
The quiet, unremarkable 32-year-old was renting one property in Rutland Avenue, Sefton Park, which became his "bomb factory", while also staying at a property in Sutcliffe Street, Kensington, in accommodation designed for asylum seekers.
A year on from the horrific incident, one big question is still unanswered: Why?
Counter Terrorism Policing North West told the ECHO Al Swealmeen's motive "remains a mystery", suggesting he did not leave behind any manifesto or clear indicators of what was going on inside his mind. Read more here.
Sleepy Liverpool street became the centre of an armed terror operation
"My daughter opened the front door and got screamed at to get back inside."
This was the first Jon Egan knew about a major anti-terror operation taking place just yards from his house one year ago today. Mr Egan, like other residents of Rutland Avenue, would find his world turned upside down in the hours and days that followed.
It may sound cliched but Rutland Avenue is not a street you would expect to be caught up in a huge police operation. It's a quiet road of big houses on the edge of Sefton Park in a fairly affluent part of south Liverpool. Its properties are predominantly taken up by families, while a number have been converted into shared houses for students and young professionals.
READ MORE: Snapchat pervert sent vile 'spanking' messages to '12-year-old girl'
But on November 14, 2021, Rutland Avenue became the central focus of an enormous anti-terror investigation that would see its residents locked in their homes for days.
That's because for months before that date, the residents of this street had unknowingly been living alongside a man plotting murder and mayhem. Emad Al Swealmeen had rented his flat in Rutland Avenue back in April of that year, his mind set on causing carnage and pain in the city of Liverpool.
It was only a couple of hours after Al Swealmeen detonated his improvised bomb in the back of a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital and killed himself that police arrived in Rutland Avenue having worked out that this was where the lone wolf operation had begun. Read the full story here.
Historic 1700s cottage that's one of oldest in area for sale
A “unique” home has been listed for sale in Merseyside that dates back to the 1700s.
The detached sandstone cottage is known as being one of the oldest properties in the area, with records dating back centuries. It’s filled with character, thanks to its original features including cast iron fireplaces, exposed brick walls and wooden beams.
As well as the main residence, on Redhouse Lane , West Kirby, the new seller will acquire a detached garage that is described as having the potential to be transformed into an annex. The period property, known as Willow Cottage, is listed for sale for £595,000 with Purplebricks.
READ MORE: 'Amazing' home with unexpected outdoor swimming pool for sale
Images inside the property show that it has plenty of charm. It's described as being a "match made in heaven" for someone who appreciates the historic character, thanks to its unique features.
Willow Cottage is split across two floors, with four of the five potential bedrooms being on the first floor. On the ground level, there are a number of family living areas, including a kitchen/dining room, sitting room and separate lounge.
A hallway off the kitchen leads to a pantry, utility room, toilet and bedroom that could be used as a home office. In addition to the property itself, there is a detached garage at the end of the plot, currently set up as a home studio. Find more information and images here.
