Watch: The cab pulled up outside Liverpool Women's Hospital and exploded into flames. We can confirm that at 10.59am today (Sunday, 14 November) police were called to reports of a car explosion at the Women's Hospital in Liverpool city centre. "He is doing OK but is extremely sore and just trying to process what's happened. Local residents said they had not seen anybody coming or going from the property for some weeks - they thought it was unoccupied. Mon 15 Nov 2021 15.35 EST Last modified on Tue 16 Nov 2021 04.25 EST A suspected suicide bomber blew himself up with a homemade device outside a maternity hospital in Liverpool, forcing the. Armed officers have carried out raids on properties on Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park, and around Sutcliffe Street and Boaler Street in Kensington. Read about our approach to external linking. 5pm: Three men aged 29, 26 and 21 are arrested at an address in SutcliffeStreet. Police said he was picked up from the Rutland Avenue area and asked to be taken to the hospital, about 10 minutes away, before the bomb exploded. "They will be interviewed by Counter Terrorism officers later today. The father of two escaped the car but has been left with a few minor burns and shrapnel in his body, according to friends, as well as damage to his ear. "My thoughts are with those affected," she tweeted. "The threat level is designed to inform the public, and guide the level of response by police and other agencies who lead on public safety and national security. He told reporters at the scene: "The operational crews extinguished the fire rapidly but as has been reiterated by the police chief constable, there was one fatality. "Whilst there is absolutely nothing to suggest any link between these incidents, the fact that two terror attacks have happened in relatively quick succession will have contributed to the intelligence picture that is continually being assessed by JTAC, and subsequently has led to the threat level increasing at this time. The terrorist was killed and taxi driver injured in a car bomb blast at Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday Hero cabbie Dave Perry locked the passenger in the taxi to prevent further disaster "We are reviewing our patient activity for the next 24-48 hours and patients should wait to be contacted for updates about any planned appointments or other attendance at the hospital. Police said officers were "working round the clock" and vowed to make efforts to ensure the safety of the city as the festive season approaches. "But I've got to say this is something that is an ongoing investigation. 11.20am: The incident is declared a terror attack. "There's more work still to be done, and already the five local authorities and Merseyside Police are working together to bolster existing plans to support businesses and visitors to the area in the run up to Christmas," they added. Frances Evans saw the explosion in Sefton Park from her balcony in Croxteth Drive, which overlooks the park. But before the taxi had even come to a halt, there was a huge, dramatic explosion. "Iwould like to thank the amazing staff, doctors and nurses at the hospital, you were all amazing and also the police officers and detectives who have been looking after us. Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said on Monday evening: "Following interviews with the arrested men, we are satisfied with the accounts they have provided and they have been released from police custody.". EPA/EPA/Reu. VideoThe Oppenheimer dilemma: H-bomb vs A-bomb, Extraordinary photos of July's extreme weather. Here is the inside story of how detectives are piecing together the incident which has shocked Liverpool and caught security services by surprise. Matthew Heightman, 26, who lives opposite the raided house in Sutcliffe Street, Liverpool, said: "Two of the men were marched out at gunpoint and they had them up against the wall. 2023 BBC. "The fare, a man, had asked to be taken to the Liverpool Women's Hospital which was about 10 minutes away. David Perry, 45, from Kirkdale, Liverpool, took his passenger on a 10-minute trip the maternity hospital, where 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen detonated an improvised explosive device inside his . At just before 11am on Sunday, a black people carrier pulling up outside Liverpool Womens Hospital blew up. @allontheboard #Hero #DavidPerry #Liverpool #allontheboard pic.twitter.com/Yo7Mi1fBuf. 7.01pm: The bomber is named by Counter Terrorism Police North West as Emad al-Swealmeen. The chief executive of Liverpool Women's Hospital has paid tribute to staff and emergency service workers following the weekend explosion. At 8:49 a.m. on Thursday 7 July 2005, three bombs were detonated on London Underground trains within 50 seconds of each other: . This has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage although out of caution CT detectives are leading as we try to understand the circumstances behind the explosion. If you have not done so already, sign up to the Merseyside Police Twitter feed @merseypolice. The Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes, has rejected criticism of the church and how they accommodate asylum seekers, saying it did the right thing in supporting Al Swealmeen. The man who died when a homemade bomb exploded outside Liverpool Women's Hospital has been named by police as Emad Al Swealmeen. His application for asylum was refused in 2014 and subsequent legal challenges were rejected. The security service, MI5, is also assisting. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon in response to the terrorist attack at Liverpool Womens Hospital, Downing Street said. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images David Perry, the taxi driver, has been. To keep updated on what is happening, keep watching the news and checking the Merseyside Police website. "Patients should wait to be contacted for updates about any planned appointments or other attendance at the hospital," it added. Mrs Cullen said: "I saw around five or six of them and two went round the back and put ladders against the wall and climbed up.". The Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, has issued a statement after a fatal car explosion outside the Liverpool Womens Hospital, this morning,claimed a life and left another person injured. What is WeChat and why does Elon Musk want to copy it? Here is another picture of the cab driver Dave Perry. Liverpool Women's Hospital said visiting access had been restricted until further notice and patients had been diverted to other hospitals where possible. The deadly blast outside Liverpool's Women's Hospital sparked a huge police operation across the city with specialist officers - including armed police - involved in raids near the Sefton Park and . I would just like to thank each and every one of you who have messaged asking how David is, Mrs Perry wrote on Facebook. However, investigators will still be hoping to gain a better understanding of what exactly lay behind this incident. She said:"The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital. "The increased threat level activates an enhanced police response that is tried and tested, to ensure that the UK is well prepared and protected. "Id like to thank the emergency services for their swift response and for bringing calm to the situation.". Prof Jackie Akhavan, an explosive chemistry expert at Cranfield University, said: This looks like a low-end terrorist-type attack, where its failed to work, having studied CCTV video of the explosion. Following police raids on Sunday, three men aged 29, 26 and 21 were arrested at an address in Sutcliffe in the Kensington area of the city under the Terrorism Act, police said in a statement on Sunday night. A taxi carrying one passenger pulled up just before 11:00 GMT on Remembrance Sunday, as a national two minutes' silence was due to begin, and exploded. The letter was published on behalf of Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Liverpool City Mayor Joanne Anderson, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram. A police search of an address in Rutland Avenue uncovered items described by police as significant. The first bomb exploded on a six-car London Underground Circle line train, number 204, travelling eastbound between Liverpool Street and Aldgate.At the time of the explosion, the train's third car was approximately 100 yards (90 m) along the tunnel from Liverpool Street. "There's a live investigation taking place right now. The Liverpool Women's Hospital is just a mile from Liverpool Cathedral where military personnel, veterans were joining civic dignitaries from across the city for a service. The attacks in Paris on the night of Friday 13 November by gunmen and suicide bombers hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants and bars, almost simultaneously . But he added: "It is a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant.". Greater Manchester Police confirmed the bang heard in the park was connected to the bombing. All four men are being interviewed by counter-terrorism detectives. "The threat level moving to severe means it is highly likely that a terrorist attack could happen in the UK. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Since this period, Al Swealmeen converted from Islam to Christianity, adopting the name Enzo Almeni. "As you know, that numberthose gradations, substantial and severe, they bump around. "Following discussions with Ordinance Disposal Officers, we are able to confirm that this is being treated as the ignition of an explosive device. Counter-terrorism police and MI5 are concerned that the attack took place so shortly after the fatal stabbing of David Amess, the Conservative MP. 9.13am: Armed officers arrest a fourth man, 20, at the Sutcliffe Street address. The explosion was believed to be due to the ignition of the IED. The passenger was declared dead at the scene and is yet to be formally identified. The vehicle exploded outside the hospital at 11am on Sunday morning, killing the passenger and injuring the driver. The moment taxi explodes outside Liverpool hospital. "The operational crews extinguished the fire rapidly but there was one fatality," he said. That would tally with the emerging thinking of investigators who increasingly believe that the hospital itself was the intended target, rather than a Remembrance Sunday parade taking place a few minutes away near Liverpools Anglican cathedral. A security source said the car had exploded before coming to a complete stop outside the hospital. "We urge anyone with any information to come forward and for people to remain vigilant. Patients have been told to attend appointments at Liverpool Women's Hospital as normal. Emad Al Swealmeen died when a bomb exploded in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, Taxi driver David Perry has been released from hospital. Home Secretary Priti Patel also tweeted she was "being kept regularly updated on the awful incident". Fire crews and police officers wearing vests marked negotiator were seen at Rutland avenue and cordons remain in place. Atrocious decision for Italy to join China's BRI - minister, End Niger coup or face military action, regional bloc warns, Putin says he does not reject peace talks on Ukraine war, Colombia stun Germany with famous win at World Cup. "The explosion happened whilst he was in the car and how he managed to escape is an utter miracle," she added. "Our enquiries indicate that an improvised explosive device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi. We will issue updates as soon as we have more information. We have triggered our information channels - to inform the local community and businesses about what information we do have and can provide. She told The Telegraph that police officers formed a human shield around a black van, which was driven into the middle of the park before she saw a puff of smoke. He added that it was entirely appropriate to involve MI5 to understand if it holds relevant information. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, one of Counter Terrorism Policing's senior national co-ordinators, said the change was a "precautionary measure and not based on any specific threat", adding that the public "should not be alarmed by this change". Health Secretary Sajid Javid paid tribute to NHS staff at Liverpool Women's Hospital who were affected by the explosion outside the building at the weekend.