BOMBER PROBE
Bomb squad find ‘several suspicious packages’ after raiding pub and asylum hostel linked to Liverpool bomber
POLICE have found "several suspicious packages" after raiding a pub and asylum hostel linked to the Liverpool bomber.
The bomb squad sealed off an address linked to terrorist Emad Al-Swealmeen, on Sutcliffe Street before extending it to Boaler Street in the city this afternoon.
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Police confirmed the finds tonight: "Out of caution, these were examined by Explosive Ordinance Disposal officers prior to being recovered by forensics teams."
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson of Counter-Terrorism Police North West, added: "Officers continue to search the Sutcliffe Street and Rutland Avenue addresses in relation to the CT incident on Sunday 14 November.
"This afternoon whilst searching a property on Sutcliffe Street several suspicious packages were found.
"Out of caution, these were examined by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) officers prior to being recovered by forensics teams.
"An extension of the cordon to Boaler Street earlier today has now been retracted to cover only Sutcliffe Street. This decision forms part of our cautious and methodical approach to searching both addresses.
"The public may see EOD officers present tomorrow, if so, their presence will again be solely out of caution in case further items are found.
"Our main focus remains at the Rutland Avenue address."
A number of police vans and emergency services remain on the scene on Sutcliffe Street, where a cordon is still in place.
Residents have reportedly been told by officers that they are not allowed into their properties.
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One resident said: "I came home from work at about 1.20pm and saw the road was closed off. We think they've found something."
A bomb disposal squad was spotted going into a house on Sutcliffe Street in Kensington.
Officers traced Al Swealmeen to an asylum hostel – a converted terrace – on the road close to a pub that was already probed.
Officers previously sealed off the same area after counter-terror police arrested three suspects there in connection with the terror attack.
Properties in Sutcliffe Street and Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park, were raided with cops arresting four men on suspicion of terror offences.
They were released without charge yesterday as police confirmed they had cooperated with the investigation.
The development comes after cops revealed that the bomber had been buying components since at least April this year.
The Head of the UK's Counter-Terrorism Policing, Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, tonight warned about the risk of copycat attackers striking.
Other extremists could be ''emboldened'' by the Liverpool blast and last month's murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess, said AC Jukes.
He said: “We have now seen two terror incidents take place on our streets in the last four weeks, and recent experience tells us that this can embolden other extremists to plan and carry out their own attacks.
'SEVERE' TERROR THREAT
“Just as we enter the first busy festive period since the start of the pandemic, the terror threat level has been raised to SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.
“I know that will concern people, but policing is stepping up our activity to protect the UK. It also means that we need the public to do the same - by being more vigilant and trusting us with their concerns.
“I want people to understand they have a very real impact on the way our police, security and intelligence services fight terrorism.
“In the last year, Counter Terrorism Policing received around 10,000 reports from the public about suspected terrorist activity – of those, a fifth provided useful intelligence which helps our investigations, and potentially save lives.
“Attacks can take many forms, as can suspicious behaviour. If someone’s behaviour seems out of place, trust your instincts and tell us. You will not be ignored, and you can make a real difference.”
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said that Iraq-born Al Swealmeen had rented a property in Liverpool seven months ago and had started making "relevant purchases" for his homemade bomb "at least" since that time.
A Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal vehicle arrived at Boaler Street along with a fire engine after a police cordon in nearby Sutcliffe Street - where officers believe Al Swealmeen previously lived.
Police said this was to "allow officers to make an assessment of materials found in a property that we've been searching", adding that it was a "precaution"
Searches have also been carried out at a property in Rutland Avenue that had been rented by Al Swealmeen since April.
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In an update issued earlier today, Mr Jackson said: "A complex picture is emerging over the purchases of the component parts of the device.
"We know that Al Swealmeen rented the property from April this year and we believe relevant purchases have been made at least since that time.
"We have now traced a next of kin for Al Swealmeen who has informed us that he was born in Iraq."
He added that the 32-year-old asylum seeker had suffered from periods of mental illness that will "form part of the investigation and will take some time to fully understand".
Last night Home Office minister Damian Hinds said it was not clear if the hospital was the intended target before Al Swealmeen, 32, blew himself up in a taxi.
He added counter-terror chiefs do not believe he was part of a "Liverpool cell" and cops are not looking for anyone else at this stage.
However it is understood it will take security forces some weeks to build a full picture of who he may have been in contact with amid fears he was manipulated online.
One friend who knew Al Swealmeen through his job at a pizza takeaway, said he "nearly fell off his chair" when he found out the bomber was his former colleague.
'TOO IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE'
Al Swealmeen - who The Sun understands was a Jordanian national - moved to the UK in 2014 and told people he was Syrian.
After his asylum claim was rejected he is said to have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act for brandishing a knife near Liverpool's city centre.
Friends claimed the F1 fan changed his name to Enzo Almeni in honour of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari - hoping it would seem more Western and help his bid to stay.
In 2017 he converted to Christianity at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, and the same year he lost his final asylum appeal, but was not deported.
The bomber went on to spend eight months living with devoted Christians Malcolm and Elizabeth Hitchott and appeared the perfect guest.
They said they felt "numbed" to learn that the "lovely man" who lived at their home was behind the horror attack.
Mr Hitchocott, a former British Army soldier, told the : "It's almost too impossible to believe.
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"There was nothing to suggest he could go on to become radicalised."
Senior MPs vowed to launch a formal probe into fake Christian converts duping the Church of England to avoid being deported back to strict Muslim countries.
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We opened our home to the Liverpool hospital terrorist - we can't believe he would do this
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