Counter-Terror Police Arrest Three Men After Liverpool Taxi Blast Leaves One Dead

Men aged 21, 26 and 29 detained under the Terrorism Act

- Lizzie Dearden

Counter-terror police have arrested three men after a taxi exploded outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

A passenger was killed in the blast, while the driver was being treated for injuries in hospital.

Friends hailed him as a “hero” amid unconfirmed reports that the man noticed an explosive device after picking up a passenger on Remembrance Sunday and “locked the scumbag in the car”.

Police were called to the explosion at 10.59 am, just before the 11 am silence observed to commemorate members of the armed forces.

A statement said the taxi had pulled up at Liverpool Women’s Hospital “shortly before” the blast.

Footage from the scene showed a man, believed to be the driver, being helped into the hospital by staff as his car burned meters away.

In a Facebook group used by private hire drivers in Liverpool, friends of the driver said he had “legged it” just in time.

“He is a hero, when he noticed the bomb he locked the scumbag in the car but took the brunt of the blast,” one man wrote.

“He’s had his ear sewn back on, got burns and shrapnel wounds and other pretty serious injuries.”