MOMENT OF BLAST
Liverpool Women’s Hospital explosion: Moment taxi blows apart seconds after driving up to entrance
THIS is the dramatic moment a taxi exploded in a fireball just seconds after pulling up outside a hospital in a Remembrance Sunday bomb blast.
Shocking footage shows the car driving up to the entrance of Liverpool Women's Hospital before stopping at the reception.
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It then explodes in a cloud of smoke and debris just seconds later as a stunned bystander watches on.
Shards of metal can be seen flying through the air and raining down on parked cars.
What we know so far...
- A terrorist was killed and taxi driver injured in a car bomb blast at Liverpool Women's Hospital yesterday
- Hero cabbie Dave Perry locked the passenger in the taxi to prevent further disaster
- The horror is being treated as a terrorist incident but the motive is unclear
- Four people have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences
- The bomb was homemade and manufactured 'by the passenger in the taxi'
- Boris Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting today as the terror threat is raised to the second highest level of 'severe'
Witnesses then rush over to the help as black smoke billows above following the terrorist incident.
Moments later, flames begin shooting from the shattered wreckage of the taxi as it becomes engulfed in a fireball.
Driver Dave Perry can be seen leaping from the inferno in a daze and rushing away from the thick smoke.
He was was injured during the Remembrance Sunday horror but has been hailed a hero for locking the suspect in the car.
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His brave actions meant the male passenger carrying the bomb was the only person killed.
Boris Johnson today praised the cabbie, saying he acted with “incredible presence of mind and bravery”.
The PM chaired an emergency Cobra meeting following the blast as Britain's terror threat was raised to "severe".
He said “the British people will never be cowed by terrorism”, adding: “We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence.”
🔵 Read our Liverpool explosion live blog for the latest updates
Armed police swooped on the hospital just before 11am yesterday after the blast in a car park.
Dramatic pictures showed the car on fire just inches from the main entrance to the hospital, where 30 babies are born each day.
Police confirmed today the horror is being treated as a terror incident.
Three suspects - aged 29, 26 & 21 - were arrested yesterday under the Terrorism Act.
It was confirmed a fourth man, 20, was held today by officers with all four suspects to be quizzed by counter-terrorism officers this afternoon.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, Counter Terrorism North West, said the bomber was picked up in Rutland Avenue just before 11am.
He then asked to be taken to Liverpool Women's Hospital, which is around ten minutes away.
As the taxi approached the hospital, the explosion tore through the car and engulfed it in a fireball - killing him and injuring cabbie Dave Perry.
Police believe they know his identify but no details have been released.
Officers are still trying to establish a motive for the terror blast and said the investigation is "continuing at pace".
TERROR PROBE
ACC Jackson said they “cannot at this time draw any connection” with Remembrance Sunday events nearby but confirmed it is a line of inquiry.
The officer added: "Remarkably, the taxi driver, escaped from the cab. He has been treated for the injuries he sustained and has now been released from hospital.
"Emergency services quickly attended the scene and Merseyside Fire and Rescue put out the fire following which it quickly became apparent that the passenger remained in the vehicle and was deceased.
"It is not clear what the motivation for this incident is.
"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.
"The reason why he then took it to the Women's Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for its sudden explosion.
"Although, 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."
'REMAIN VIGILANT'
The officer confirmed two addresses in the city have been searched as a result of the investigation.
Three of the suspects were arrested yesterday at Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool, while today's arrest was made in the same area.
Cops have found "significant items" at a home searched in Rutland Avenue with eight families living nearby evacuated.
Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "There is no specific threat to the area, but I have asked for patrols to be increased right across Merseyside."
She also urged people to "remain calm" but "vigilant and alert".
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Liverpool Women’s Hospital featured on hit Channel 4 series One Born Every Minute and sees 500,000 patients a year.
The hospital — where Coleen Rooney gave birth to her four sons — has around 1,350 staff who work there.
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Bomb squad called to Liverpool hospital after reports of ‘explosion’
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