UK counter-terrorism police arrest 3 following deadly Liverpool car explosion

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal and Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA): Three men were arrested by the UK’s counter-terrorism police following a car explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which killed one person and injured another, a statement said Sunday.

The men — aged 29, 26, and 21 — were detained in the Kensington area of Liverpool and later arrested under the Terrorism Act, in connection with the explosion that took place outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, according to the statement.

A number of residents are being evacuated from the street with luggage and taken away in cars

“The passenger of the car – a man – was declared dead at the scene and is yet to be formally identified.

“The driver – also a man – was injured at the scene and remains in hospital in a stable condition,” the statement said.

“Detectives from Counter Terrorism Police North West continue to keep an open mind about the cause of the explosion and are working closely with colleagues at Merseyside Police as the investigation continues at pace,” it added.

Merseyside police said they were called to Liverpool Women’s Hospital at 10.59 a.m. over an incident on Sunday.

Images showing a car on fire were largely shared on social media.

Earlier in the day, local police said in a statement: “Unfortunately, we can confirm that one person has died and another has been taken to hospital where he is being treated for his injuries, which thankfully are not life-threatening,” the local police said.

Eyewitnesses said a taxi pulled up at the hospital before the fatal explosion.

“So we far we understand that the car involved was a taxi which pulled up at the hospital shortly before the explosion occurred,” the statement also said.

The hospital said it was restricting visitors until further notice, with patients being diverted to other hospitals where feasible, and that staff could leave and enter under police supervision.

“I am being kept regularly updated on the awful incident at Liverpool Women’s Hospital,” Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote on Twitter.

“Our police and emergency services are working hard to establish what happened and it is right they are given the time and space to do so,” she noted.

Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson said: “The incident at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital is unsettling and upsetting and my thoughts are with those affected. I’d like to thank the emergency services for their swift response and for bringing calm to the situation.”

[UK Map by Pixabay/Free to use]

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