The explosion at Liverpool Women’s Hospital has been declared a terror incident.
One person died while another suffered serious injuries from the blast in a taxi outside the main entrance to the hospital shortly before 11am on Sunday.
Police arrested three men at addresses in Kensington under the Terrorism Act while a fourth man from the area was also detained on Monday morning.
Several houses in Rutland Avenue, close to Sefton Park, were evacuated while officers discovered ‘signfiicant items’ during an initial search of one property.
Detectives from Counter Terrorism North West have now detailed the events which led up to the incident at the city centre site on Remembrance Sunday.
Assistant chief constable Russ Jackson said: “The circumstances, as we understand them to be, are that yesterday shortly before 11am, a local taxi driver picked up a fare in the Rutland Avenue area of Liverpool.
“The fare, a man, had asked to be taken to the Liverpool Women’s Hospital which was about 10 minutes away.
“As the taxi approached the drop off point at the hospital, an explosion occurred from within car, which quickly engulfed it in flames.
“Remarkably, the taxi driver, escaped from the cab. He has been treated for the injuries he sustained and has now been released from hospital.
“Following discussions with Ordinance Disposal Officers, we are able to confirm that this is being treated as the ignition of an explosive device.
“Our enquiries also indicate that the device was brought into the cab by the passenger.
“We believe we know the identity of the passenger but cannot confirm this at this time.
“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.”