Headlines: Police trace relative of Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen

Al Swealmeen had been officially named as the taxi passenger killed in Sunday’s blast outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Counter-terrorism police have traced a relative of Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen and have made contact, the police chief heading the investigation has revealed.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, head of Counter Terrorism Police North West, also confirmed Al Swealmeen had been officially named as the taxi passenger killed in Sunday’s blast outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

ACC Jackson added: “He is believed to have been born in Iraq and lived most recently at the Rutland Avenue address.

“Officers have traced a relative of Al Swealmeen, and we will be speaking with them today.

“The scene at the hospital remains in place; however, the car has been removed, and officers continue to conduct fingertip searches.

“It is expected that sections will be released in the coming days, but the scene will not be fully released until at least Sunday.”

Police searches continue

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Al Swealmeen had lived at the Sutcliffe Street address in Kensington raided by police in the wake of Sunday’s car explosion for some time.

He had recently rented another address on Rutland Avenue, were bomb-making parts and “significant items” were recovered by police.

Searches have been ongoing, and a police cordon in Sutcliffe Street was temporarily extended during the ongoing investigation.

Police cars block the road as a control centre is set up in Rutland Avenue after properties were raided by armed officers on 15 November (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Police cars block the road as a control centre is set up in Rutland Avenue after properties were raided by armed officers on 15 November (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Police cars block the road as a control centre is set up in Rutland Avenue after properties were raided by armed officers on 15 November (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Several suspicious packages were found and were examined by explosive ordinance disposal officers before being recovered by forensic teams.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Although there has been a police presence in Kensington, ACC Jackson said: "Our main focus remains at the Rutland Avenue address."

The cordon at Liverpool Women's Hospital where Sunday’s Remembrance Day bomb exploded has been reduced.

What the eyewitness accounts from Sunday say

One of the witnesses of the blast outside the women's on Sunday has been telling reports about the immediate aftermath.

Security guard Darren Knowles rushed to help cab driver David Perry.

He told the Daily Mirror: "He was panicking and screaming, 'Someone has blown me up. I want my wife'.

Related topics: