Liverpool Women’s Hospital car blast confirmed as ‘terror incident’

The Liverpool Echo

Police have confirmed they are treating the Liverpool Women’s Hospital taxi blast as a “terrorist incident”.

Speaking at a press conference today Assistant Chief Constable and Head of Counter Terrorism Police North West Russ Jackson said the device was brought into the taxi and believed to be manufactured by the passenger. He said the taxi driver picked up a fare from Rutland Avenue and the man asked to go to the Liverpool Women’s.

ACC Jackson said they are unsure of the motive behind the attack and said they “cannot at this time draw any connection” with Remembrance Sunday events near the Women’s Hospital but confirmed “it is a line of inquiry”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: “Our emergency services were on the scene within minutes and have done a fantastic job of dealing with this incident and working with all the authorities throughout the night.

“Our job is to be calm and support our emergency services to do their job. . . “The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital…” When asked about the reports of the driver and if Ms Anderson had been told by the authorities, she said: “Well, we knew that the taxi driver had stood out and locked the doors, we knew that early on.”

Police have confirmed they believe they know the identity of the taxi passenger from the explosion outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

At a joint press briefing with Merseyside Police, Russ Jackson, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West said a man was picked up from an address in Rutland Avenue in Kensington. It is believed the passenger brought a homemade device into the taxi which detonated outside the entrance to the hospital.

Mr Jackson said: “The investigation into the explosion at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, led by Counter Terrorism Policing is continuing at pace.

“The circumstances, as we understand them to be, are that yesterday shortly before 11am, a local taxi driver picked up a fare in the Rutland Avenue area of Liverpool.  The fare, a man, had asked to be taken to the Liverpool Women’s Hospital which was about 10 minutes away. As the taxi approached the drop off point at the hospital, an explosion occurred from within car, which quickly engulfed it in flames. Remarkably, the taxi driver, escaped from the cab. He has been treated for the injuries he sustained and has now been released from hospital.

“We believe we know the identity of the passenger but cannot confirm this at this time. Our enquiries have led us to two addresses.

“The first was Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool and at this location three men aged 21, 26 and 29 were arrested yesterday under S41 of the Terrorism Act. A short while ago, again in the Kensington area, a further man aged 20 was arrested under S41 of the Terrorism Act. “They will be interviewed by Counter Terrorism officers later today.

“The Sutcliffe Street address was searched overnight and further searches will take place today. A second address has been searched at Rutland Avenue in Sefton Park.”

Speaking about the second address in Rutland Avenue, ACC Jackson said: “A second address has also been searched at Rutland Avenue in Sefton Park, at this location, significant items were found.

“Further searches will be necessary today and potentially in the coming days. A cordon remains in place and eight families have been evacuated.”

The ECHO was reporting live from Rutland Avenue throughout yesterday and last night and spoke to families within the cordon who reported seeing armed forces aiming their guns at a house.