As a city, Liverpool has faced more challenges than most - but Sunday's terrorist attack has rocked this famously resilient part of the country to its core.
This was a cowardly attack that targeted a hospital for mothers and babies - a vulnerable and hugely emotive place for every Scouser.
It is in times of great adversity that the true colours of people and places shine through and it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows Liverpool well that the people of this city have stood up, united and pulled each other up again.
READ MORE: How a sleepy south Liverpool street became centre of armed terror investigation
Whether it was the residents of Rutland Avenue who rushed out of their homes to provide a wheelchair for an elderly man being evacuated from his home as armed officers gathered in the street.
Or the thousands of pounds instantly raised locally for taxi driver David Perry after he was injured in the horrific blast that engulfed his car in flames in the horror attack.
Or the brave bystanders who didn't think twice before running towards David as he fled that terrifying fireball - desperate to help him in any way they could.
Liverpool stood up, it pulled together and as it always does when faced with adversity - it will come back stronger.
As City Mayor Joanne Anderson put it: "I would always trust the people of this city to support each other at times like this and that is exactly what they have done.
She added: "For all of us who know that Liverpool is a tolerant and inclusive city – this will be hard to come to terms with. Over the next few days, as we learn more about what happened, we must all support each other and unite, as we always do, when times are tough."
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram made a similar point, adding: "We are known for our solidarity and resilience here. Our diversity remains one of our greatest strengths.
"We will never let those who seek to divide us win. "
And they are right. Scousers look out for each other, Scousers look after each other - and when others try to jump on a crisis in this city to push their own divisive agenda, that will simply be rejected.
It doesn't matter what your background is - this was an attack on all of us in this city and everything we hold dear.
As a joint statement from Liverpool's local mosques put so well: "This was a cowardly and heinous attack on a hospital that has a special place at the heart of our city, where so many children are born and where people from all communities work."
The Women's hospital represents the best of this diverse, inclusive, brave and brilliant city and each and every person here will have been horrified to see it targeted in this way.
Just like we all were so impressed to see our emergency services spring into gear and rush to the scene of the attack within minutes with the only objective to make us all safe and bring those who tried to inflict pain on this city to justice.
This has been an incredibly difficult moment and Liverpool has been knocked, there is no doubt about that - but what is in even less doubt is that this city will bounce back - like it has done before - to be stronger than ever.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
