Timeline of Liverpool terrorism explosion: dead passenger named, fourth man arrested, taxi driver a ‘hero’

An explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday has officially been declared a “terrorist incident” by police.

A taxi exploded and then burst into flames at around 11:00 in the morning, killing the bomb-carrying passenger, who has been identified as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen.

The taxi driver, named locally as David Perry, was injured in the blast and declared a hero by Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson for “diverting what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital.”

Four men have so far been arrested by Merseyside Police and officers from Counter Terrorism North West in connection with the incident.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks said Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses in the city where police raids took place and searches are still ongoing.

Officers carried out a controlled explosion as a precaution at Sefton Park on Monday evening as part of the on-going investigation.

The UK’s terror threat level has now been raised from “substantial” to “severe”, Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed.

How the events unfolded

On Sunday morning, the local taxi driver picked up a fare from the Rutland Avenue area of Liverpool, who asked to be taken to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which is about ten minutes away.

“As the taxi approached the hospital, an explosion occurred from within the car, this quickly engulfed it in flames, remarkably, the taxi driver escaped from the cab,” Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, head of Counter Terrorism North West, explained at a media conference.

Merseyside Police, Ambulance and Fire and Rescue Services were quickly on the scene.

Army ordinance disposal officers also arrived to examine the area and confirmed the ignition of an explosive device had taken place.

They concluded the bomb was brought into the cab by the Al Swealmeen.

Arrests and searches made in Liverpool

Police officers proceeded to cordon off two residential streets and the hospital as enquiries continued into the incident on Sunday.

ACC Jackson said officers subsequently raided two addresses, the first in Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool where three men - aged 21, 26 and 29 - were arrested.

On Monday morning a further man - aged 20 - at a different address in Kensington was arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act.

The Sutcliffe Street address was searched overnight and several other addresses will be searched today and, potentially, in the coming days.

An address at Rutland Avenue in Kensington was also searched and “significant items have been found”. A cordon is still in place in the area and eight families have been evacuated.

What do we know about the taxi driver?

Named locally as David Perry, he is believed to be a driver for Delta Taxis and is now at home “resting with his family” after initially being admitted to hospital.

CCTV footage shows the taxi driver escaping from the car after the explosion and before the vehicle burst into flames.

“He is without a doubt lucky to be alive,” his wife Rachel posted on Facebook.

“The explosion happened whilst he was in the car and how he managed to escape is an utter miracle.”

Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the taxi driver had locked the doors on the passenger to keep him in the cab.

“The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital,” she said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also credited the driver for his conduct when his car exploded.

Mr Johnson said: “It does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.”

Speaking at press briefing, ACC Jackson said on Monday he could not confirm reports the driver had locked the doors of the taxi before the explosion.

A Facebook fundraising page has been set up for Mr Perry by the Liverpool ‘taxi family’ and has already raised nearly £20,000.

What do we know about the passenger?

Counter terrorism detectives leading the investigation into the explosion have confirmed the identity of the passenger who died as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen.

Detective Chief Inspector 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.’’

Al Swealmeen was picked up at Rutland Avenue and driven the ten minutes to Liverpool Women’s Hospital where the bomb exploded.

The fire service confirmed that the passenger was found dead inside the taxi.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson added: “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.”

What was the motivation behind the attack?

It is still not clear why the explosion was planned but police one line the police are investigating is a possible connection to Remembrance Sunday commemorations in the city.

The bomb went off at 10:59, one minute before a two-minute silence was due to commence at a nearby service at Liverpool Cathedral.

ACC Jackson said: “It is not clear at this time what the motivation for this incident is.

“The reason why he took it [the bomb] to the Women’s Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for its sudden explosion.

“We are of course aware that there were remembrance events just a short distance away from the hospital and that the ignition occurred shortly before 11am.

“We cannot at this time draw any connection with this but it is a line of inquiry we are pursuing.”

“All though the motivation for this incident is yet to be understood, given all the circumstances, it has been declared a terrorist incident and counter terrorism policing are continuing with the investigation.

“Our enquiries will now continue to seek how the device was built, the motivation for the incident and to understand if anybody else was involved in it.”

Advice for Liverpudlians

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said although there was no specific threat to the area she had asked for police patrols to be increased across Merseyside.

She said: “Merseyside Police will continue to liaise with community groups, community leaders, partner agencies and individuals in the coming days and weeks to make sure any concerns are addressed and ensuring that we provide the best possible service to local people.

“There will also be an increased and visible police presence on the streets of Merseyside and I would encourage people to engage with my officers and raise any concerns they may have.

Anyone who has any information should call 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Womens Hospital Incident.

Details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

UK’s terror threat level increased

In the fallout from Sunday’s car explosion, the UK’s terrorism threat level has been increased to severe.

“This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, although there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent,” Home Secretary Priti Patel said.

She added that the terror 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.”

In October, Conservative MP Sir David Amess was stabbed to death at his constituency surgery in Essex in an attack that was also declared a terrorist incident.