Horrific scenes have emerged from inside the Birmingham house 'gutted' by a 200-shot firework where a 56-year-old dad lost his life.
Tony Nicholls died in hospital five days after the 'large commercial-sized firework' was planted inside his house in Tile Cross, Birmingham and set alight.
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Images of the shocking damage have now been released, which you can see below.
Credit: SWNS
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The house was devastated by the 'absolutely terrifying' attack, with crime scene photos showing a blackened ceiling and walls, a melted television and other scorched property.
West Midlands Police have now launched a murder investigation after Mr Nicholls was rescued from the inferno but never regained consciousness. He is survived by one daughter in her mid-30s.
His partner, Marie, 50, was left with fractures to her lower limbs and remains in hospital after she was forced to jump from a first-floor window to escape the blaze.
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Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, from West Midlands Police's homicide team, said: "Sadly one of the victims of this fire has died and our thoughts are with his family and partner at their time of loss.
Credit: SWNS
"His death means that we are now treating this as a murder enquiry and I would like to re-emphasise the need for anyone with information to call us."
The police are now following up several lines of enquiry and are focusing on CCTV from the local community.
Cops believe that the commercial-sized-box-shaped firework (see below) placed inside the house contained around 200 tubes of explosives and would have taken two minutes to fully discharge.
Credit: SWNS
This type of firework, around 2ft x 1ft in size, is designed to be used for an outdoor public display in a field or a similar open space, making it a devastating prospect inside a small property.
The main floor of the house was turned into a burnt-out wreck after the firework was set off, filling the home with flames and smoke.
Credit: SWNS
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"The impact would have been terrifying for the occupants and I would urge anyone who sold anyone who sold or is missing a firework of this size to get in touch," DI Joyce added.
"This would have been a large heavy firework that would have been difficult to carry some distance, so I would ask anyone who saw someone carrying a large box in the area last Thursday night to contact us."
Police are still trying to understand why the couple were targeted and have asked for anyone with any information, however insignificant it may seem, to contact them.
Anyone who has information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: UK News, Birmingham, News, crime, Murder