One dead, one hurt as taxi explodes at Liverpool Hospital seconds before remembrance silence begins
One dead, one hurt as taxi pulls up and explodes at Liverpool Women’s Hospital seconds before remembrance silence begins: Counter-terror police lead probe with raids carried out and bomb squad on site
Armed police were seen outside two addresses on separate streets in Liverpool One person died and a second was injured in an explosion reported at 10:59am The car involved was a taxi which exploded outside Liverpool Women’s HospitalCounter Terrorism Police leading the investigation, along with Merseyside PolicePolice said the explosion ‘has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage Did you witness any of today’s events in Liverpool? Email lauren.lewis@mailonline.co.uk
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
One person has died and another hurt after a taxi pulled up and exploded outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital seconds before the nation fell silent to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Counter terrorism police launched an investigation into the explosion earlier today with raids carried out and a bomb squad at the scene.
Armed police were pictured outside two addresses on separate streets in Liverpool this evening as officers closed the roads and residents were ordered to remain inside.
Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park and Boaler Street in Kensington were blocked by police vehicles and cordons, witnesses said.
Officers searched multiple addresses along Boaler Street.
Police earlier said the explosion ‘has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage’ as they urged the public to remain calm, but vigilant.
The incident was reported to police at 10.59am, moments before the two-minute silence at 11am. One person was killed and a second – a male casualty – is being treated for injuries which police said are ‘not life threatening’.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she is being updated on the ‘awful incident’.
Liverpool’s Mayor Joanne Anderson said the news was ‘unsettling and upsetting’, adding: ‘My thoughts are with those affected.’
Pictures being shared on Twitter are reported to show the car in flames outside Liverpool’s Women’s Hospital
Armed police were pictured outside two addresses on separate streets in Liverpool as officers closed the roads and residents were ordered to remain inside
Rutland Avenue near Sefton Park (pictured) and Boaler Street in Kensington were blocked by police vehicles and cordons, witnesses said
Police officers were seen searching multiple addresses following the explosion moments before the nation fell silent for Remembrance Sunday
Counter terrorism police launched an investigation into the explosion earlier today with raids carried out and a bomb squad (pictured) on site
A picture shows the burnt out vehicle outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Sunday afternoon
Liverpool Women’s Hospital said it has restricted visiting access to the hospital ‘with immediate effect and until further notice’.
Where possible, patients have been diverted to another hospital, a spokesman said, and staff are currently allowing ambulances to access the hospital in emergencies.
Staff are being permitted to leave and enter the hospital under the supervision of Merseyside Police. Some patients were evacuated from the site.
Officers along with crews from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Regional Ambulance Service attended the city centre site.
Fire services said they extinguished the car fire rapidly, and a person had left the car before the fire ‘developed to the extent that it did.’
In a statement, North West Ambulance Service said: ‘At 10.59am today we were called to reports of a car explosion @LiverpoolWomens. We were on scene by 11.04am.
‘One person has died and another person was treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries, before being taken to hospital. Follow @MerseyPolice for more.
‘Patients and visitors of @LiverpoolWomens are advised to visit liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk for the most up to date information. Our thoughts are with all affected.’
Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation, supported by Merseyside Police, a spokesman for the force confirmed.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police told MailOnline it could take ‘some time’ to confirm what happened but that a major incident had been declared.
‘We can confirm that at 10.59am today (Sunday, 14 November) police were called to reports of a car explosion at the Women’s Hospital in Liverpool city centre,’ the statement said.
‘Police immediately attended, along with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Regional Ambulance Service.
‘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.
‘So far we understand that the car involved was a taxi which pulled up at the hospital shortly before the explosion occurred.
‘Work is still going on to establish what has happened, and could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything.’
Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation, supported by Merseyside Police, a spokesman for the force confirmed
Police and firefighters were spotted outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, alongside a bomb disposal vehicle
Army personnel were pictured at the scene in Liverpool on Sunday evening after an explosion killed one and injured another person seconds before the nation fell silent for Remembrance Sunday
Police attended the incident, along with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Regional Ambulance Service
Pictures taken at the scene show smoke billowing into the sky, while a video picked up banging noises while firefighters arrived at the scene
The spokesman added: ‘We are keeping an open mind as to what caused the explosion but given how it has happened, out of caution, Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation supported by Merseyside Police.
‘The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents. Our response is ongoing at the hospital and will be for some time. Cordons are in place, and there are some road closures.
‘We have triggered our information channels – to inform the local community and businesses about what information we do have and can provide
‘We would urge the public to remain calm (but vigilant). To keep updated on what is happening, keep watching the news and checking the Merseyside Police website.
‘We would like to thank the public for their patience and their cooperation today which has already greatly assisted our policing response.
‘We will issue updates as soon as we have more information.
‘This has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage although out of caution CT detectives are leading as we try to understand the circumstances behind the explosion.’
Ms Patel said: ‘I am being kept regularly updated on the awful incident at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
‘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.’
Images of a vehicle on fire, and later burnt out, at the scene earlier were shared online.
Footage of a number of explosions and billowing smoke outside the hospital were also shared as a bomb disposal unit attended.
A police helicopter was also seen circling the area outside a hospital where a car had reportedly exploded
