Police name 32-year-old man they believe died in explosion
Counter-terror police have named the man they believe to have died in the blast as Emad al Swealmeen. He was 32.
Detective chief inspector Andrew Meeks said: “Our inquiries are very much ongoing but at this stage we strongly believe that the deceased is 32-year-old Emad al Swealmeen. Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses where searches are still ongoing.
“We believe he lived at the Sutcliffe Street address for some time and had recently rented the Rutland Avenue address.
“Our focus is the Rutland Avenue address where we have continued to recover significant items.
“We continue to appeal for any information about this incident and now that we have released his name any information that the public may have about Al Swealmeen no matter how small may be of great assistance to us.’’
Anyone who has any information should call on 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Women’s hospital incident. Details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Police carry out controlled explosion
Officers investigating the explosion at Liverpool Women’s hospital have said they carried out a controlled explosion at Sefton Park in Liverpool as part of their counter-terrorism policing investigation.
The statement from Greater Manchester police added: “There is believed to be no wider risk to the public and the investigation continues.”
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Summary
Here are the main things we’ve learned today about the Liverpool attack.
- Police this morning declared the hospital blast a terrorist incident.
- A fourth 20-year-old man was arrested in addition to the three men aged 18, 26 and 29 arrested on Sunday. They are all being interviewed by police today.
- Police believe they know the identity of the deceased passenger but have not yet revealed it. They think he built the explosive device in the taxi, but they are uncertain as to a motive or why the Liverpool Women’s hospital was chosen.
- The arrested men are believed to be “associates” of the taxi passenger.
- The UK terrorism threat level was increased to severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”. Government sources say this should not be taken as an indication of any further specific live threat.
- The taxi driver was named as David Perry. He has now been released from hospital. His wife, Rachel Perry, said he is “doing OK but is extremely sore”.
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Official sources have told the PA Media news agency the decision to raise the terror threat level should not be taken as an indication of any further specific live threat.
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The health secretary, Sajid Javid, paid tribute to NHS staff at Liverpool Women’s hospital who were affected by the explosion outside the building.
PA reported that Javid said in the House of Commons: “This is an ongoing investigation into what has now been declared a terrorist incident by police so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment in any detail.
“But I would like to take a moment to express my thanks to all of the NHS staff and emergency serves who have responded to the incident.
“They have shown the utmost professionalism in the most difficult of circumstances, and my thoughts, and I know the thoughts of the whole house, are with them and anyone that has been affected.”
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Here’s the full text of Johnson’s brief comments on the terrorist incident in Liverpool at the coronavirus press conference, which has now ended:
I have just chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency COBR committee following the sickening attack outside Liverpool Women’s hospital yesterday.
My thoughts remain with all those affected, and, on behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to the emergency services who responded as always with such speed and professionalism. The police have now confirmed this is being treated as a terrorist attack and while the investigation continues at pace, you will understand that I can’t comment on the details of the case or its motivation.
But it is a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant, and the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre are today raising the UK’s threat level from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
But what yesterday showed above all is that the 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, and our freedoms and our way of life will always prevail.
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In a statement, the home secretary, Priti Patel, said: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the people of Liverpool following yesterday’s terrible incident, which clearly has had a very significant impact across the community.
“Alongside that, I want to give my personal thanks and the thanks of the government to our emergency services, and the police in particular.
“I’ve been in touch with the chief constable and other emergency service workers and our armed forces who have been part of the operational work that is on the ground.
“The prime minister has this afternoon just chaired a COBR meeting, which I attended.
“First of all, the incident has been declared as a terrorist incident. The police have now declared that. Secondly, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (Jtac) are now increasing the United Kingdom’s threat level from substantial to severe, and that is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month.
“Now, of course, that means we continue to work with our world class security, intelligence and policing services and representatives from those agencies.
“There is a live investigation taking place right now. They will need the time and the space to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident. But, of course, we as a government, I as home secretary, continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure that we are taking all the necessary steps required.”
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Asked at the press conference how concerned the public should be about the elevated terror threat level, Boris Johnson said “that simply reflects the number of attacks we’ve seen in the last few weeks and months”.
He added: “Those gradations bump around and what we’re really saying to the public as a result of what happened in Liverpool is that they always have to be vigilant.”
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The wife of David Perry, the taxi driver who escaped the explosion, has said her husband is “doing OK but is extremely sore”, adding that it was an “utter miracle” that he managed to escape.
The Telegraph reports the comments from Rachel Perry, who said: “I would just like to thank each and every one of you who have messaged asking how David is.
“He is doing OK but is extremely sore and just trying to process what’s happened.
“There are a lot of rumours flying around about him being a hero and locking the passenger inside the car, but the truth of the matter is, he is without doubt lucky to be alive.
“The explosion happened whilst he was in the car and how he managed to escape is an utter miracle.
“He certainly had some guardian angels looking over him.
“I would 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.
“We’re so thankful.”
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The home secretary, Priti Patel, said the attack had had a “very significant impact across the community” in Liverpool and her thoughts were with people in the city.
PA reported that Patel told broadcasters: “Alongside that, I want to give my personal thanks, and the thanks of the government, to our emergency services, the police in particular. I’ve been in touch with the chief constable, other emergency service workers as well, and our armed forces who’ve been part of the operational work that’s on the ground.
“Now, of course, that means we continue to work with our world-class security, intelligence and policing services.
“There’s a live investigation taking place right now. They will need the time, the space, to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident.
“But of course, we as a government, I as home secretary, continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure that we’re taking all the necessary steps required.”
The “context” of there being two terrorist incidents in the space of a month was “really important”, she added.
She said: “I should just conclude my remarks by saying that our security and intelligence services prevent all sorts of acts, day in, day out.
“And of course, they understand the landscape, they see context, they see all sorts of things that keep our country safe and secure every single day and that work will continue.”
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An update from PA reporters on the ground at the house raided in Liverpool where the suspects were arrested:
A police cordon remains in place on Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park in Liverpool.
A crime scene investigator wearing a white suit was seen going in and out of a property in the street and a number of police vehicles were at the scene.
Police helped to carry shopping deliveries to properties within the cordon.
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Boris Johnson: incident is 'stark reminder' of need for vigilance
Speaking briefly on the terrorist incident in Liverpool at the start of a televised press conference on the Covid, Johnson said: “My thoughts are with them all”.
He added: “I can’t comment on the details of the case or its motivation but it’s a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant.
“What yesterday showed above all is that the British people will never be cowed by terrorism.
“Our way of life will always prevail.”
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Here’s some analysis from the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, on the decision to raise the threat level to terrorism to severe:
The threat to Britain from terrorism has been raised to severe – meaning that an attack is now deemed highly likely – in the aftermath of the explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The decision was taken by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre on Monday, Whitehall sources said, and it represents an upgrade of one notch from the previous threat level, substantial.
The threat level had been at the lower level since 4 February following a “significant reduction” in the momentum of attacks in Europe, including those seen in Austria and France between September and November 2020.
The decision reflects the fact that two terror attacks have taken place in the past month; the other being the killing of the Conservative MP Sir David Amess at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-sea, Essex.
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The Muslim Council of Britain has shared a statement praising the bravery of David Perry, the Liverpool taxi driver whose swift response is thought to have possibly prevented a wider atrocity in the city.
Zara Mohammed, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said:
“Nothing justifies this reprehensible act, and we praise the quick action of David Perry who prevented a terrorist attack. The explosion took place outside Liverpool Women’s hospital, which holds a special place for the people of Liverpool. Many Muslims work at the hospital and the institution is a neighbour to one of the city’s largest mosques. This is an attack on all of us and the values we all hold dear. We thank the emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to the attack.
“Liverpool has a special place in the history of the British Muslims, being home to one of the earliest Muslim communities in Victorian England. We join Liverpool’s mosques and Islamic centres as they pray for peace and calm in the city.”
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The home secretary, Priti Patel, said the terrorism threat level had been raised because there had been two attacks in the space of a month.
Speaking to broadcasters, she said: “The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, Jtac, are now increasing the United Kingdom’s threat level from substantial to severe. And there’s a reason for that, and that reason is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month.”
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UK terror threat level increased to severe
The UK terrorism threat level has increased to severe following the Liverpool Women’s hospital blast on Sunday, meaning an attack is “highly likely”, a government source said.
Severe is the second highest threat level.
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Summary
PA Media has provided a useful summary of everything we know so far:
- The explosion happened inside a taxi outside the hospital moments before 11am on Remembrance Sunday.
- Emergency services were on the scene within minutes and one man, the passenger in the taxi, was pronounced dead.
- The driver of the taxi, named locally as David Perry, was injured but managed to escape and has since been released from hospital.
- He picked up the passenger in the Rutland Avenue area of Liverpool, roughly a 10-minute drive from Liverpool Women’s hospital, said Russ Jackson, the assistant chief constable from counter-terrorism policing north-west.
- Officers said an explosion came from within the car as it approached the drop-off point.
- Police have declared the event a “terrorist incident” and said the proximity in location and time to Remembrance services was a “line of inquiry”, though officers cannot draw a connection “at this time”.
- Officers say “inquiries indicate that an improvised explosive device has been manufactured” and are working under the assumption the passenger built it in the taxi.
- They believe they know the identity of the passenger but have not confirmed it publicly.
- Detectives are unsure what the motivation behind the attack was, the reason for the device’s “sudden explosion” or why the passenger asked to be taken to the hospital.
- Three men aged 21, 26 and 29 were detained on Sunday in Sutcliffe Street in the nearby Kensington area of the city.
- A fourth man, aged 20, was arrested on Monday, also in the Kensington area.
- All were arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, under which officers can detain terror suspects without a warrant, and will be interviewed on Monday.
- Two addresses, one in Sutcliffe Street and another in Rutland Avenue, have been searched, with the second address yielding “significant items”, Jackson said.
- Eight families were evacuated from near the Rutland Avenue address and a cordon is in place.
- Boris Johnson praised the taxi driver for acting with “incredible presence of mind and bravery”, while the mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, lauded the driver for his “heroic efforts”.
- Liverpool Women’s hospital said visiting access had been restricted “until further notice” and there was an increased security and police presence on the site.
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More from the neighbours interviewed by PA reporters:
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.
“There wasn’t any kind of struggle, they just walked out of the front.
“The people living there had not long moved in, maybe weeks or months.”
More from the Guardian’s Manchester-based reporter Maya Wolfe-Robinson:
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the taxi driver, David Perry, who was “understandably very shook up” when interviewed by counter terror officers, has now been released from hospital after he was treated for his injuries.
There is no suggestion that he told police he had any indication that anything was amiss during the 10-minute journey. He picked up the passenger from Rutland Avenue, who asked to be taken to Liverpool Women’s hospital, according to police.
Jackson said police had “attributed” the taxi passenger to both the addresses where officers were currently searching but were uncertain which address he lived at.
“We have got significant items in one of the addresses,” Jackson said.
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The Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, has spoken to an intelligence expert about Sunday’s incident:
A former military intelligence officer told the Guardian he believes Liverpool Women’s hospital “had an extremely lucky escape” because the explosive device in the taxi “clearly didn’t go off as the terrorist intended”.
Philip Ingram, a former colonel, has studied CCTV videos of the blast circulating on line and concluded that, if fully detonated, a bomb that close to the hospital would have “would have blown the windows out, bowed the roof [of the car] and the glass wave would likely have killed both and put hospital windows out”.
The most likely explosives, the former intelligence expert added, are hard to make work because “unless you know what you are doing then they don’t go bang”. The film appears to show some initial pressure build up in the car, but it was not significant, as the driver of the taxi was able to open the door and escape a few seconds later.
Police believe the explosive device was built by the male passenger in the taxi, who was killed in the blast. “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,” said Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson.
Improvised homemade explosives, such as TATP, can often be unstable, and it is possible that it could have been set off by a knock or extra heat, Ingram added. It is not clear if the hospital was the intended target of the bomb, but police have said the passenger asked to be driven there.
Army ordinance disposal officers were on the scene of the incident to assist police. Ingram said they will already have been able to determine using chemical residue testing what the nature of the explosive was.
The last terrorist bombing incident in the UK was in 2017. An improvised explosive device was detonated in September that year on a packed tube train at Parsons Green during the morning rush hour. It misfired but nevertheless injured 22 people.
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Reporters from PA have been speaking to neighbours of the arrested suspects.
Neighbour Sharon Cullen said she thought four men aged about in their 20s lived at the address in Sutcliffe Street.
She said: “I don’t know any of them but one them always seemed to be on a PC in his bedroom.”
Cullen said she and her husband, 22-year-old daughter and two-year-old grandson were evacuated from their home at about 9.45pm on Sunday.
She said: “The police pounded on my door and an officer said ‘we need to get you out of the house as soon as possible’.
“They said ‘whatever is going on at the back of the house, it could blow the block’.
“It was really frightening.”
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Boris Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon in response to the terrorist attack at Liverpool Women’shospital, Downing Street has said.
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Asked on BBC News about the risk of people producing homemade bombs, Aldworth said the police “have become very good at reporting suspicious purchases of flammable materials”.
He said it is now much more difficult to make large explosive devices, such as those made in the past by the IRA, since “there are now rules around the sales and storage” of chemicals such as farms fertilisers.
Instead, increasingly terrorists use a large number of people to buy lots of small purchases to circumvent the rules, he said.
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Nick Aldworth, the UK’s former counter-terrorism national co-ordinator, is analysing what police and security investigators will be focusing on that moment.
He told BBC News that what he had seen suggested it was either a “a low yield explosive” or “an intentionally incendiary advice or a much greater explosive that has failed to detonate”.
He added that lots of these devices are unstable and can cause fires without being detonated.
He added that “despite the intense fire that followed on from that explosion there are likely to be residual items of evidence” for example shrapnel or nuts and bolts. There is also likely to be evidence to the addresses where the suspects were based.
After the Manchester Arena bombing, investigators found chemicals used to make the device, which enabled them to determine the size of device and whether there may be any other devices circulating, he said.
He added that people should be especially vigilant in the move to wards Christmas, and that he hoped that this incident had reminded people of the threat of terrorism, which is currently at the “substantial” level in the UK.
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More from PA on the arrest of the fourth suspect:
A cordon remains in place outside a terraced house in Sutcliffe Street, Kensington.
A grey Mondeo car parked adjacent is also taped off as uniformed officers continue to guard the front and side alley of the property.
Shortly after 9.10am a young man was put into the back of a police car outside the address.
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Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, from counter-terrorism policing north-west, said the arrested men were believed to be “associates” of the taxi passenger, PA Media reports.
He said officers were looking at his associates, his telephone records and purchases he may have made.
He said police had “attributed” the taxi passenger to both the addresses where officers were currently searching but were uncertain which address he lived at.
“We have got significant items in one of the addresses,” Jackson said.
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Here’s the full report on what we know about the situation so far, from three Guardian reporters, Jamie Grierson, Vikram Dodd and Maya Wolfe-Robinson.
The piece will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Here’s the response so far from Boris Johnson, reported by the Guardian political correspondent Aubrey Allegretti:
The prime minister praised the “incredible presence of mind and bravery” of a taxi driver injured in the blast at Liverpool Women’s, hospital which has been declared a terrorist incident by police.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccine centre in east London on Monday, he told journalists: “This is an ongoing investigation so I can’t comment on the details or exactly what type of incident it was, what type of crime it may have been.
“But it does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.
“I’ve got to say this is something that is an ongoing investigation. I think it would be premature to say much more than that.”
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Speaking to BBC News, the Liverpool mayor, Joanne Anderson, said she had driven past the Liverpool women’s hospital this morning, where the incident took place yesterday, and saw “plenty of police presence”.
She said: “I’m pretty sure they’re there to reassure the community, the police are doing everything they can to make sure we’re all safe.”
She added “most people are able to get about their business in the city”, but noted “we must remain calm but vigilant after this incident”.
She also praised the quick response from emergency services. “I can’t thank our emergency services enough, fire and police on the scene within minutes, arrests made quickly yesterday, people working through the night and everyone’s on standby ready to take action.”
Asked about the taxi driver, she said: “What an awful experience and jumping out of the taxi he’s lucky to have escaped in the way he did. it doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened.
“I think it’s really important that we support him in recovering. It’s really important this man is able to recover from what must have been a horrific shock yesterday.”
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Here’s some extra detail on the incident from the Guardian’s crime correspondent, Vikram Dodd:
Police investigating the explosion and fireball outside a Liverpool hospital believe they have found materials linked to the explosive device used, after a series of dramatic raids and searches.
Investigators believe a suspected improvised explosive device caused the fireball and explosion shortly after the taxi pulled up outside the entrance of the Liverpool women’s hospital.
The explosion at around 11am on Sunday led to a series of armed raids and searches, during which materials consistent with the production of an IED were discovered in Liverpool. Some residents were evacuated.
The cab driver is believed to have been in the vehicle at the time of the explosion and runs away after the device is set off.
The UK terrorism threat level remains at substantial, meaning an attack is likely.
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Jackson added that emergency services quickly attended the scene and army ordinance disposal had since confirmed the area was safe. “It quickly remained apparent the passenger remained in the vehicle and was deceased,” he said, adding: “We believe we know the identity of passenger but cannot confirm at this time.”
He said: “Following discussions with ordinance disposal officers, we are able to confirm that this is being treated as the ignition of an explosive device. Our enquiries also indicate that the device was brought into the cab by the passenger.
The assumption at present is the explosive device was built by passenger in taxi, but that the reason it was taken to the women’s hospital was unknown, as is reason for sudden explosion.
He said: “We’re aware remembrance events were a short while away from hospital when the ignition occurred. We cannot draw connection but it’s a line of inquiry we are pursuing. Our inquiries will seek to understand how device was built, motivation for incident and to understand if anyone else was involved in it.”
Kennedy said: “I completely understood communities are concerned, I can assure officers are on ground providing high visibility support. Incidents such as this are very rare but I’d ask people to remain calm but also be vigilant and alert.
“There is no specific threat to the area, but I have asked for patrols to be increased right across Merseyside.
“There’s been lots of speculation on social media and false reports of further incidents. I’d urge members of public to rely on official information that will be released on our Twitter feed and website.
“Officers from counter terrorism north west are leading the investigation supported by Merseyside police.”
Jackson has also said that MI5 is involved.
Kennedy urged people to contact 999 with any concerns.
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Police declare explosion at Liverpool Women's hospital a terrorist incident
Police have declared the explosion at Liverpool Women’s hospital a terrorist incident in a news conference.
We heard from Merseyside’s chief constable, Serena Kennedy, and Russ Jackson from counter-terrorism policing north west.
Jackson said a fourth 20-year-old man has been arrested following the incident yesterday. This follows the arrest of three men aged 18, 26 and 29 who were arrested in Sutcliffe Street, in the central area of Kensington in Liverpool under the Terrorism Act. They will all be interviewed later today by counter-terrorism detectives.
He confirmed that this was now a terrorism incident.
Jackson also confirmed that the taxi driver picked up a passenger at 11am on Sunday, who asked to be taken to Liverpool women’s hospital, 10 minutes away. At drop-off, an explosion occurred within the car.
He said: “Remarkably, the taxi driver escaped from the cab. He’s being treated for injuries he sustained and is now released from hospital.”
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The Liverpool mayor, Joanne Anderson, has praised the taxi driver for minimising the impact of the disaster in an interview on BBC news.
She said: “The taxi driver in his heroic efforts has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster.
“We knew the taxi driver had stood out; the taxi driver locked the doors.
“Our thanks go to him.”
She also thanked the emergency services for supporting residents following the incidents on Twitter.
As well as the emergency services, a special thanks also to all the council staff who’ve worked through the night to help our residents affected by the incident @LiverpoolWomens 👏🏾 https://t.co/qJGfFdzFxX
— Joanne Anderson (@MayorLpool) November 15, 2021
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The police are expected to give a press conference shortly on their investigation into the blast in the taxi in Liverpool on Sunday.
In the meantime, Kim Johnson, the MP for Liverpool Riverside, is speaking to BBC News.
She said she understood that “counsellors and police will update us on what’s happening because it’s an ongoing investigation, there hasn’t been a declaration it was a terrorist attack.”
She added: “The local authorities need to be commended for responding so quickly and professionally to the explosion that took place yesterday
“It was a shocking incident and things could have been a lot worse but the car did receive a lot of fire damage but there’s little evidence to suggest there was a lot of bomb damage.
“It was a very concerning and very scary incident, coinciding with the remembrance event today, but there’s lots of speculation about what happened and we need to allow the services to conduct their investigations and not get involved with misinformation.”
Rachel Hall here leading the blog for today to keep you updated with all developments related to the Liverpool taxi fire as they happen. If I’ve missed anything, please do drop me a line at rachel.hall@theguardian.com, or you can reach me on Twitter.
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A taxi exploded outside Liverpool Women’s hospital in the UK on Sunday morning, killing one and injuring another.
Here’s what we know so far:
- A taxi exploded in flames outside Liverpool Women’s hospital in Liverpool city centre shortly before 11am on Sunday.
- A male passenger inside the vehicle was killed in the blast and declared dead at the scene, Merseyside police confirmed. Police are working to establish his identity.
- The driver managed to escape before the flames spread and is in hospital in a stable condition.
- Following police raids, three men – aged 29, 26 and 21 – have been arrested in the Kensington area of the city under the Terrorism Act, police said in a statement on Sunday night.
- In the hours after the blast, a heavy police presence was reported at three streets in the city – Sutcliffe and Boaler streets in Kensington, and Rutland Avenue in Sefton Park. Fire crews and police officers wearing vests marked “negotiator” were seen at Rutland Avenue and cordons remain in place.
- Police said they were “keeping an open mind” as to what caused the explosion. Investigators believe it is unlikely it was a fault with the vehicle and are investigating whether the timing of the explosion, when the Remembrance Sunday silence was due to begin at the cathedral nearby, was deliberate.
- The investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police who are being assisted by Merseyside police and MI5.
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