A Conservative councillor has apologised after a tweet was posted from his account which mocked the Liverpool terror attack.
The tweet, sent by Paul Nickerson, who is an Conservative councillor in East Riding in Yorkshire, included an image of the taxi on fire after the explosion that occurred outside Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday. But an image of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had been superimposed and made to appear to be walking towards the flaming wreckage of the car, the Echo reports.
The image caused a huge backlash online and Cllr Nickerson has now issued an apology. He tweeted: "I would like to apologies for a political tweet sent from my account yesterday which has been upsetting for some people and I unreservedly apologise to all concerned."
Cllr Nickerson has received plenty of criticism online, including from writer and journalist Owen Jones who described the mocked up picture as 'completely vile'. Mr Jones then added that the apology posted from the councillor's account was 'pathetic.'
Police have now confirmed that the man who set off the explosive device inside the taxi and died at the scene is 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen. Al Swealmeen, 32, reportedly died instantly and the taxi driver, named as David Perry, managed to leap from the vehicle just seconds after the blast.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the attack and are focusing on Rutland Avenue in south Liverpool where Al Swealmeen booked the taxi from on Sunday and where 'significant items' have been found.
