Police name 32-year-old man they believe died in explosion
Counter-terror police have named the man they believe to have died in the blast as Emad al Swealmeen. He was 32.
Detective chief inspector Andrew Meeks said: “Our inquiries are very much ongoing but at this stage we strongly believe that the deceased is 32-year-old Emad al Swealmeen. Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses where searches are still ongoing.
“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.’’
Anyone who has any information should call on 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Women’s hospital incident. Details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Officers investigating the explosion at Liverpool Women’s hospital have said they carried out a controlled explosion at Sefton Park in Liverpool as part of their counter-terrorism policing investigation.
The statement from Greater Manchester police added: “There is believed to be no wider risk to the public and the investigation continues.”
Here are the main things we’ve learned today about the Liverpool attack.
Police this morning declared the hospital blast a terrorist incident.
A fourth 20-year-old man was arrested in addition to the three men aged 18, 26 and 29 arrested on Sunday. They are all being interviewed by police today.
Police believe they know the identity of the deceased passenger but have not yet revealed it. They think he built the explosive device in the taxi, but they are uncertain as to a motive or why the Liverpool Women’s hospital was chosen.
The arrested men are believed to be “associates” of the taxi passenger.
The UK terrorism threat level was increased to severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”. Government sources say this should not be taken as an indication of any further specific live threat.
The taxi driver was named as David Perry. He has now been released from hospital. His wife, Rachel Perry, said he is “doing OK but is extremely sore”.
Official sources have told the PA Media news agency the decision to raise the terror threat level should not be taken as an indication of any further specific live threat.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, paid tribute to NHS staff at Liverpool Women’s hospital who were affected by the explosion outside the building.
PA reported that Javid said in the House of Commons: “This is an ongoing investigation into what has now been declared a terrorist incident by police so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment in any detail.
“But I would like to take a moment to express my thanks to all of the NHS staff and emergency serves who have responded to the incident.
“They have shown the utmost professionalism in the most difficult of circumstances, and my thoughts, and I know the thoughts of the whole house, are with them and anyone that has been affected.”
Here’s the full text of Johnson’s brief comments on the terrorist incident in Liverpool at the coronavirus press conference, which has now ended:
I have just chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency COBR committee following the sickening attack outside Liverpool Women’s hospital yesterday.
My thoughts remain with all those affected, and, on behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to the emergency services who responded as always with such speed and professionalism. The police have now confirmed this is being treated as a terrorist attack and while the investigation continues at pace, you will understand that I can’t comment on the details of the case or its motivation.
But it is a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant, and the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre are today raising the UK’s threat level from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
But what yesterday showed above all is that the British people will never be cowed by terrorism. We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence, and our freedoms and our way of life will always prevail.
In a statement, the home secretary, Priti Patel, said: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the people of Liverpool following yesterday’s terrible incident, which clearly has had a very significant impact across the community.
“Alongside that, I want to give my personal thanks and the thanks of the government to our emergency services, and the police in particular.
“I’ve been in touch with the chief constable and other emergency service workers and our armed forces who have been part of the operational work that is on the ground.
“The prime minister has this afternoon just chaired a COBR meeting, which I attended.
“First of all, the incident has been declared as a terrorist incident. The police have now declared that. Secondly, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (Jtac) are now increasing the United Kingdom’s threat level from substantial to severe, and that is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month.
“Now, of course, that means we continue to work with our world class security, intelligence and policing services and representatives from those agencies.
“There is a live investigation taking place right now. They will need the time and the space to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident. But, of course, we as a government, I as home secretary, continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure that we are taking all the necessary steps required.”
Priti Patel says terrorism threat level raised to severe after Liverpool blast – video
Asked at the press conference how concerned the public should be about the elevated terror threat level, Boris Johnson said “that simply reflects the number of attacks we’ve seen in the last few weeks and months”.
He added: “Those gradations bump around and what we’re really saying to the public as a result of what happened in Liverpool is that they always have to be vigilant.”
The wife of David Perry, the taxi driver who escaped the explosion, has said her husband is “doing OK but is extremely sore”, adding that it was an “utter miracle” that he managed to escape.
The Telegraph reports the comments from Rachel Perry, who said: “I would just like to thank each and every one of you who have messaged asking how David is.
“He is doing OK but is extremely sore and just trying to process what’s happened.
“There are a lot of rumours flying around about him being a hero and locking the passenger inside the car, but the truth of the matter is, he is without doubt lucky to be alive.
“The explosion happened whilst he was in the car and how he managed to escape is an utter miracle.
“He certainly had some guardian angels looking over him.
“I would like to thank the amazing staff, doctors and nurses at the hospital, you were all amazing and also the police officers and detectives who have been looking after us.
The home secretary, Priti Patel, said the attack had had a “very significant impact across the community” in Liverpool and her thoughts were with people in the city.
PA reported that Patel told broadcasters: “Alongside that, I want to give my personal thanks, and the thanks of the government, to our emergency services, the police in particular. I’ve been in touch with the chief constable, other emergency service workers as well, and our armed forces who’ve been part of the operational work that’s on the ground.
“Now, of course, that means we continue to work with our world-class security, intelligence and policing services.
“There’s a live investigation taking place right now. They will need the time, the space, to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident.
“But of course, we as a government, I as home secretary, continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure that we’re taking all the necessary steps required.”
The “context” of there being two terrorist incidents in the space of a month was “really important”, she added.
She said: “I should just conclude my remarks by saying that our security and intelligence services prevent all sorts of acts, day in, day out.
“And of course, they understand the landscape, they see context, they see all sorts of things that keep our country safe and secure every single day and that work will continue.”
An update from PA reporters on the ground at the house raided in Liverpool where the suspects were arrested:
A police cordon remains in place on Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park in Liverpool.
A crime scene investigator wearing a white suit was seen going in and out of a property in the street and a number of police vehicles were at the scene.
Police helped to carry shopping deliveries to properties within the cordon.
Boris Johnson: incident is 'stark reminder' of need for vigilance
Speaking briefly on the terrorist incident in Liverpool at the start of a televised press conference on the Covid, Johnson said: “My thoughts are with them all”.
He added: “I can’t comment on the details of the case or its motivation but it’s a stark reminder of the need for us all to remain utterly vigilant.
“What yesterday showed above all is that the British people will never be cowed by terrorism.
Here’s some analysis from the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, on the decision to raise the threat level to terrorism to severe:
The threat to Britain from terrorism has been raised to severe – meaning that an attack is now deemed highly likely – in the aftermath of the explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The decision was taken by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre on Monday, Whitehall sources said, and it represents an upgrade of one notch from the previous threat level, substantial.
The threat level had been at the lower level since 4 February following a “significant reduction” in the momentum of attacks in Europe, including those seen in Austria and France between September and November 2020.
The decision reflects the fact that two terror attacks have taken place in the past month; the other being the killing of the Conservative MP Sir David Amess at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-sea, Essex.
The Muslim Council of Britain has shared a statement praising the bravery of David Perry, the Liverpool taxi driver whose swift response is thought to have possibly prevented a wider atrocity in the city.
Zara Mohammed, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said:
“Nothing justifies this reprehensible act, and we praise the quick action of David Perry who prevented a terrorist attack. The explosion took place outside Liverpool Women’s hospital, which holds a special place for the people of Liverpool. Many Muslims work at the hospital and the institution is a neighbour to one of the city’s largest mosques. This is an attack on all of us and the values we all hold dear. We thank the emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to the attack.
“Liverpool has a special place in the history of the British Muslims, being home to one of the earliest Muslim communities in Victorian England. We join Liverpool’s mosques and Islamic centres as they pray for peace and calm in the city.”
The home secretary, Priti Patel, said the terrorism 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.”
