An army bomb disposal crew were called-in to deal with a hand grenade discovered near the home of soccer legend Kenny Dalglish.
Locals suggested that the explosive device was found in the garden the home "Merry Hill" where the ex-footballer lives with his wife Marina in Southport. Merseyside.
Police condoned-off Selworthy Road in Birkdale after two men were arrested near the home of a local businessman who has bene the target of a campaign of intimidation.
Merseyside Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that inquires were continuing in the area.
The two were spotted by private security guards who had hired to keep watch watch on the home of local businessman John Ball.
Mr Ball's home has twice been the target for drive-by shootings and other properties in which he has an interest have been torched in arson attacks.
The pair tried to flee the scene but were quickly captured by police and a hand grenade was found on the front boundary wall outside Kenny Dalglish's home.
Dalglish's five-bedroomed detached property stands next-door-but-one to the house that was the apparent target for the attack.
On neighbour said: "The road was swarming with police when we looked out to see what the commotion was.
"It seems two men were disturbed as they had got out of a Lexus car and started to approach John Ball's house.
"They ran off and one of them dumped a grenade on the wall in front of Kenny Dalglish's home.
"The army bomb disposal squad were called in and took it away."
Police sources confrimed that they have been liaising with guards who have had the house under surveillance following earlier attacks.
Two men who arrived at the scene in a light-coloured Lexus car were challenged by the security guards around 10-15pm pm on Sunday night.
The pair made off int he car but were quickly tracked and arrested - at first on suspicion
of witness intimidation.
A search was carried out in Selworthy Road and the hand grenade was found where it had apparently been placed, on top of the wall outside Dalglish's home.
It is thought that the Dalglish property was not occupied at the time since Kenny was in Thailand on business.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Two men aged 28 and 29 men, from the Huyton area, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage and possession of a prohibited weapon.
"Officers were called at 10.15pm following reports from a member of the public that two men were acting suspiciously outside a house in Selworthy Road.
"The offenders left the scene in a light-coloured car. A search of the area was carried out and a car matching that description was found close by.
"Shortly afterwards two men in their 20s were stopped by patrols and arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation.
"During a further search of the area, officers found an explosive device. The army's bomb disposal team were called and the area cordoned off for the public's safety.
"The device was removed and made safe and is currently undergoing forensic examination."
Selworthy Road was cordoned off at its junction with Sandringham Road while forensic tests continued and high-visibility patrols were stepped-up in the area to reassure the public.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call the Guncrime hotline on 0800 458 1211, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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