BRITAIN'S terror threat level has been raised to severe following the Liverpool car bomb plot – meaning another attack is seen as "highly likely".
The announcement comes after Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the Government's response to the shocking incident.
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced: "The Joint Terror Analysis Centre are now increasing the UK's threat level from substantial to severe.
Mrs Patel wouldn't be drawn on whether there was specific intelligence behind the raising of the threat level.
Read our Liverpool explosion live blog for the latest updates…
- Milica Cosic
Terror threat level raised to severe meaning another attack is 'highly likely'
BRITAIN'S terror threat level has been raised to severe following the Liverpool car bomb plot – meaning another attack is seen as "highly likely".
The announcement comes after Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the Government's response to the shocking incident.
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced: "The Joint Terror Analysis Centre are now increasing the UK's threat level from substantial to severe.
"There's a reason for that and that reason is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month now.
"Of course that means we continue to work with our world-class security intelligence and policing services.
"There's a live investigation taking place now – they will need the time, the space to do the work that they're doing in terms of investigating the incident.
"But of course we as a Government and I as Home Secretary continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure we're taking all the necessary steps required."
- Louis Allwood
Terrorist asked to be taken to hospital
Liverpool Women’s Hospital featured on hit Channel 4 series One Born Every Minute and sees 500,000 patients a year.
Around 1,350 staff work there. The hospital — where Coleen Rooney gave birth to her four sons — was immediately closed to visitors and a police cordon was thrown around it.
- Louis Allwood
Another terror attack ‘highly likely’ as threat level raised to SEVERE
BRITAIN'S terror threat level has been raised to severe following the Liverpool car bomb plot meaning another attack is seen as "highly likely".
The announcement comes after Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the Government's response to the shocking incident.
This morning the PM paid tribute to the hero cab driver whose quick thinking in yesterday's terror attack saved lives.
- Louis Allwood
When did the blast happen?
The car blew up in Liverpool at 10.59am, killing its “suspicious-looking” passenger as the country prepared to mark the Fallen at 11am.
Pals of the injured taxi driver, who was in a stable condition last night, said he acted courageously to thwart a bombing of the hospital, where 30 babies are born each day.
- Louis Allwood
'Critical' time
Sources said that the next 24 hours would be critical, with experienced anti-terror detectives from Scotland Yard also being asked to lend their expertise.
Merseyside Police confirmed it had handed over the investigation to colleagues from the North West Counter-Terrorism unit, which regularly targets Islamist and far-right inspired terror suspects.
- Louis Allwood
Armed cops arrest terror suspect at gunpoint
THIS is the moment armed police arrested a terror suspect after a car explosion outside a women's hospital.
Dramatic footage shows officers with guns yelling "don't you f***ing move" as they storm the terraced home in Liverpool.
A man can be seen slowly walking out of a back door with his arms in the air.
One cop balances on a ladder at the edge of the garden wall with a gun trained on the house.
An officer then yells: "Show me your hands. Do not move."
- Louis Allwood
Fourth arrested
Police have arrested a fourth man today after strolling up to the house under guard.
The man in his 20s was detained in Sutcliffe Street – where three other men were arrested yesterday – in connection with the explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday.
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson to chair emergency Cobra meeting today
BORIS Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on the Liverpool car bomb plot this afternoon – after a fourth person was arrested.
This morning the PM paid tribute to the hero cab driver whose quick thinking in yesterday's terror attack saved lives.
Brave Dave Perry leapt from the car and locked the doors as the device exploded at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday – killing only the male passenger who carried the bomb.
Last night a car caught on fire after an explosion near Liverpool Women's Hospital – just a minute before the 11am Remembrance Day events across the country.
The Prime Minister said: "This is an ongoing investigation so I can't comment on the details or exactly what type of incident it was, what type of crime it may have been.
"But it does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.
"But I've got to say this is something that is an ongoing investigation. I think it would be premature to say much more than that."
- Milica Cosic
Piers Morgan hails ‘absolute hero’ David Perry
PIERS Morgan has praised a "hero" cabbie who locked a suspected terrorist in his taxi before a hospital bomb blast.
Dave Perry was injured after leaping from the car at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday during the Remembrance Day horror.
Piers tweeted: "This is Liverpool taxi driver David Perry who locked a Remembrance Sunday terrorist in his cab seconds before the bomber detonated an explosive device right outside a maternity hospital.
"David’s actions almost certainly saved many lives. He is an absolute hero."
- Milica Cosic
Have you got information?
Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Womens Hospital incident.
- Milica Cosic
Mapped: The hospital blast
Armed police swooped on Liverpool Women's Hospital just before 11am yesterday after the blast in a car park.
Cops have found "significant items" at a home searched in Rutland Avenue with eight families living nearby evacuated.
They are now looking at telephone records and purchases made by the terrorist, who has been linked to both addresses being searched.
- Milica Cosic
Horror is being treated as a terror incident
Police confirmed today the horror is being treated as a terror incident.
Three suspects – aged 29, 26 & 21 – were arrested yesterday under the Terrorism Act.
It was confirmed a fourth man, 20, was held today by officers with all four suspects to be quizzed by counter-terrorism officers this afternoon.
- Milica Cosic
What we know so far…
- A terrorist was killed and taxi driver injured in a car bomb blast at Liverpool Women's Hospital yesterday
- Hero cabbie Dave Perry locked the passenger in the taxi to prevent further disaster
- The horror is being treated as a terrorist incident but the motive is unclear
- Four people have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences
- The bomb was homemade and manufactured 'by the passenger in the taxi'
BREAKING: A FOURTH terror suspect was arrested this morning in Liverpool
A FOURTH terror suspect was arrested this morning in Liverpool after casually strolling down the street to a house being guarded by cops.
The man in his 20s was detained in Sutcliffe Street – where three other men were arrested yesterday – in connection with the explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday.
Read more here.
"Significant items" found in Rutland Avenue
Three of the suspects were arrested yesterday at Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool, while today's arrest was made in the same area.
Cops have found "significant items" at a home searched in Rutland Avenue with eight families living nearby evacuated.
- Louis Allwood
Explosive device 'was built by the passenger'
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson released the following statement: "Remarkably, the taxi driver, escaped from the cab. He has been treated for the injuries he sustained and has now been released from hospital.
"Emergency services quickly attended the scene and Merseyside Fire and Rescue put out the fire following which it quickly became apparent that the passenger remained in the vehicle and was deceased.
"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."
- Louis Allwood
Motive unknown
Officers are still trying to establish a motive for the terror blast and said the investigation is "continuing at pace".
ACC Jackson said they “cannot at this time draw any connection” with Remembrance Sunday events nearby but confirmed it is a line of inquiry.
- Louis Allwood
Terrorist was picked up at Rutland Avenue
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, Counter Terrorism North West, said the dead bomber was picked up in Rutland Avenue just before 11am.
He then asked to be taken to Liverpool Women's Hospital, which is around ten minutes away.
As the taxi approached the hospital, the explosion tore through the car and engulfed it in a fireball.
- Louis Allwood
Terrorist had homemade bomb and asked taxi to take him to hospital
A TERRORIST ordered a taxi to a hospital carrying a homemade bomb before it suddenly exploded killing him and injuring the cabbie, police said today.
Armed police swooped on Liverpool Women's Hospital just before 11am yesterday after the blast in a car park.
Police confirmed today the horror is being treated as a terror incident.
Three suspects – aged 29, 26 & 21 – have been arrested under the Terrorism Act.
A fourth man, 20, was held today by officers with all four suspects to be quizzed by counter-terrorism officers.
- Louis Allwood
Police press conference
Counter terrorism police North West have said that the investigation is 'continuing at pace'.
They have confirmed that the explosive device was ignited and brought into the taxi by the passenger.
Police believe they have been able to identify the passenger.
It is not clear what the motivation was behind the explosion.
- Louis Allwood
Hallmarks of ISIS
IF you look at all the pieces, this bears the hallmarks of a terror attack — and just like IS.
Firstly, because of the target and where it happened. IS has targeted hospitals and medical facilities in Afghanistan recently.
Secondly, because of the date. It’s very representative because it’s Remembrance Sunday.
The timing is incredibly significant. It was at 10.59am — on the nose.
And thirdly, because of what was used. It sounds like a VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) from what I’ve heard.You’ve got too many joined up pieces to make it a coincidence, plus the fact the attack was in Liverpool as opposed to London.
As we know with cowards like IS, they will always look for the path of least resistance — somewhere that won’t be guarded.It won’t be long before they claim responsibility for this.
- Louis Allwood
Shards of metal hit other cars
Shocking footage shows the car driving up to the entrance of Liverpool Women's Hospital before stopping at the reception.
It then explodes in a cloud of smoke and debris just seconds later as a stunned bystander watches on.
Shards of metal can be seen flying through the air and raining down on parked cars.
Witnesses then rush over to the help as black smoke billows above.
- Louis Allwood
Staff and patients had to evacuate
Armed police swooped on the hospital just before 11am yesterday after the blast in a car park.
Staff had to evacuate some patients and transfer them to other hospitals as the Army bomb squad sealed off the area.
Liverpool Women’s Hospital announced visiting access is restricted "until further notice" and patients will be sent to other medical facilities "where possible".
A spokesperson said staff will be reviewing "patient activity for the next 24 to 48 hours" and assured support is available for anyone impacted by the incident.
- Louis Allwood
Fundraising page has been set up
Last night, an online fundraising page was set up to help David.
The organiser wrote: “His quick-thinking possibly saved a lot of lives.”
- Louis Allwood
Liverpool hero pictured
Brave Dave Perry leapt from the car and locked the doors as the device exploded at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday — killing only the male passenger who carried the bomb.
Last night, David was stable in hospital with burns and shrapnel injuries, including damage to his ear.
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