Investigations continue into hospital terror explosion
An explosion in a taxi has prompted British authorities to amp the country’s threat level up from substantial to severe, as the incident is treated as an act of terrorism.
David Perry, a taxi cab driver, was injured after the cab he was driving exploded outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital just before 11am on Remembrance Sunday.
Authorities are investigating the explosion and have since identified the passenger as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen, who died at the scene.
According to police, Mr Al Swealmeen brought a homemade explosive device into the cab and asked Mr Perry to drive him to the hospital.
Carl Bessant was inside the hospital when the explosion occurred. Image: Carl Bessant
CCTV footage shows the cab pulling into the drop-off section of the hospital car park at speed before the explosion occurred.
The driver then got out of the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames, and has since been treated for injuries.
Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson praised Mr Perry and suggested he had diverted the incident from occurring inside the hospital by locking the passenger in the cab.
“The taxi driver in his heroic efforts has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster,” she told the BBC.
“The taxi driver locked the doors.
“Our thanks go to him.”
However, authorities have not confirmed her account of the incident.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the “sickening attack”, telling reporters that British people “will never be cowed by terrorism”.
“We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence,” he said.
Three men believed to be “associates” of the deceased man were also arrested in other parts of Liverpool on Sunday under the Terrorism Act, with a fourth detained on Monday.
They have since been released without any charges laid.
In the hours following the explosion, police raided two properties where Mr Al Swealmeen was believed to live, with both located within a mile of the hospital. Police also confirmed that a controlled explosion was carried out at one of the properties where they believe Mr Al Swealmeen constructed the explosive device he used in the cab.
Assistant Chief Constable Jackson said the explosion was declared a terrorism incident, but that the motive behind it was yet to be determined.
Forensic officers undertook a fingerprint search outside the hospital following the blast. Image: Getty Images
“Our enquiries indicate that an improvised device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi,” he said.
“The reason why he then took it to the Women’s Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for the sudden explosion.”
Constable Jackson said the connection between the explosion and the time it occurred - shortly before Remembrance Day events were due to start - is a line of inquiry authorities are pursuing.
Police also believe the explosive may have failed to detonate properly or was set off prematurely.
The explosion comes within a month of the UK’s first fatal incident, where British MP David Amess was stabbed to death during a constituency meeting.
Image: The Guardian / YouTube