An explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday has been declared a terror incident by police.
A taxi exploded and was engulfed in flames just before 11am at a drop-off zone near the entrance, killing the passenger and injuring the driver.
The cabbie, named locally as David Perry, was declared a hero by Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson for locking the suspect inside the vehicle on Remembrance Sunday, as a national two minutes’ silence was due to begin, and exploded.
The passenger was declared dead at the scene and is yet to be formally identified.
The cab driver escaped from the car and while he was treated in hospital he has now been released
Detectives from Counter Terrorism Police North West said three men – aged 29, 26 and 21 – were detained in the Kensington area of the city on Sunday 14 November.
Today (15 November) a fourth man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act, police confirm.
Counter Terrorism North West’s Russ Jackson said: “A short while ago, again in the Kensington area, a further man aged 20 was arrested under S41 of the Terrorism Act.”
ACC Jackson says officers believe an improvised explosive device was manufactured for the blast.
“Our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi,” he said.
“The reason why he then took it to the Women’s Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for its sudden explosion.”
He adds it is a “reminder that the threat from terrorism remains significant”.
“Police, with all our partners, will continue to work hard to protect the UK and keep the public safe, but countering terrorism also requires support from all corners of our society,” he continued.