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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

Terror suspect rented house before bombing outside Liverpool Women's Hospital

A terror suspect in the taxi blast outside of Liverpool Women's Hospital had recently rented a house before the bombing, police confirmed.

The suspect, who is believed to have detonated the explosion in a taxi outside the hospital on Remembrance Sunday, has been named by police as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen.

Counter Terrorism Police confirmed Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses having lived in Sutcliffe Street for 'some time' and 'recently rented' the Rutland Avenue property.

READ NEXT: Liverpool Women's Hospital responds after 'traumatising' few days

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson from Counter Terrorism North West previously confirmed that a local taxi driver picked up a fare at an address on Rutland Avenue.

He then asked to be taken to the Liverpool Women's Hospital which was about 10 minutes away, and as the taxi approached the drop-off point, an explosion occurred.

The senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks said: "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.''

Shortly before 11am on Sunday, a taxi pulled up outside the main entrance to Liverpool Women's Hospital and immediately exploded, killing the 32-year-old.

(Getty Images)

The driver of the taxi, David Perry, survived the initial blast and managed to leap from his vehicle seconds before it burst into flames.

In the hours that followed, streets were locked down in Kensington and near Sefton Park as specialist officers worked to unravel the suspected terrorist plot.

On Sutcliffe Street, armed police were seen in the area while concerns neighbours were urged to remain inside and to stay away from the windows.

Factory worker Keith Ford was watching the scene unfold out of his living room window when he was told to 'grab as much stuff' as he could as the area was being evacuated.

Keith's partner Joan added she had spoken to the occupants of the property in recent weeks, adding: "There was a car parked outside my address and I think they were having some trouble with the wing mirror.

"I went to the door and asked nicely if they could move it because my partner is disabled and needs to park by the door.

"He was really polite, he seemed lovely, he said 'yes no problem madam'."

Four men were arrested under the terrorism act in connection with the incident, but were released from custody after interview.

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