Emad Al Swealmeen killed in Liverpool Hospital blast

Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, was murdered in an explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital, according to police.

Emad Al Swealmeen was a passenger in a cab when his homemade device exploded soon before 11:00 GMT.

David Perry, the driver, was able to get out of the car before it caught fire and has since been released from the hospital.

The terror danger level in the United Kingdom has been increased to “serious,” with four men arrested under the Terrorism Act.

Officials suspect Al Swealmeen stayed in a property on Sutcliffe Street in Liverpool’s Kensington neighbourhood, where counter-terrorism officers had previously conducted raids.

Officials suspect Al Swealmeen stayed in a property on Sutcliffe Street in Liverpool’s Kensington neighbourhood, where counter-terrorism officers had previously conducted raids.

He had recently rented an address on Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park in the city, according to police, which has also been searched.

“Our emphasis remains the Rutland Avenue address, where we have continued to find important materials,” said Det Ch Insp Andrew Meeks of the North West Counter Terrorism Police.

“Any knowledge the public has on Al Swealmeen, no matter how insignificant, might be extremely helpful to us.”

Al Swealmeen is suspected of designing and bringing the device into the taxi.

He was picked up from the Rutland Avenue area and asked to be driven to the hospital, which was about a 10-minute drive away, before the bomb exploded, according to police.

Three males, aged 21, 26, and 29, were seized in Kensington on Sunday and arrested under the Terrorism Act.

A fourth man, aged 20, was arrested earlier under the Terrorism Act in the same Liverpool neighbourhood.

Detainees held under the Terrorism Act can be kept for up to 14 days without charge.

The three guys are thought to be “associates” of Al Swealmeen, according to police.

Home Secretary Priti Patel upped the terror threat level from “serious” to “severe,” indicating that an attack is “very likely” because the blast in Liverpool was the second occurrence in a month

Police have classified the killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed numerous times during a meeting with constituents in Essex on October 15, as a terrorist attack.

One of Counter Terrorism Policing’s senior national co-ordinators, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, claimed the change was a “precautionary step and not based on any specific threat,” adding that the public “should not be concerned by this change.”

Patients have been instructed to keep their regular appointments at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Kathryn Thomson, the hospital’s chief executive, praised the “brave and committed” employees and emergency service workers, but said the last two days had been “very upsetting and traumatizing.”