A YOUNG man brutally knifed to death in Liverpool on Saturday was the son of murdered Liverpool gangster George Bromley.

Tony Bromley, 18, was stabbed repeatedly and died from his injuries outside a house in a cul-de-sac in Anfield. One witness said they believe the victim tried to call for help using his mobile phone shortly before he died.

His death came more than 11 years after his father George, then a key figure in the control of doors in Liverpool’s clubland, was shot in the head in the West Derby home of restaurateur turned author Charlie Seiga.

Tony Bromley is understood to have been George Bromley’s youngest son.

The 18-year-old’s body was discovered in Sprucewood Close just after 1.30am, and a post mortem later revealed that he had died as a result of multiple stab wounds. It is thought Mr Bromley, from Anfield, had been out drinking with friends in the Breck Road area on Friday night and detectives, who say they believe he was deliberately targeted, have launched a murder investigation.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Watson, area commander for North Liverpool, said last night the victim’s family is “devastated and trying to come to terms with what has happened”.

He continued: “At the moment, we do not know the motive for the attack, but we do believe the victim was targeted and we are following up a number of lines of inquiry to establish the motive.

“This was a deliberate and particularly brutal attack on a young man. I would reassure the community that our investigations will be thorough and will continue until we bring those responsible before the courts.”

The cul-de-sac was last night still cordoned off while crime scene investigators carried out forensic examinations and conducted house-to-house enquiries.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said yesterday: “At around 12.30am, my wife and I heard voices outside – not shouting, just mumbling really. We looked out of the window and couldn’t see anything.