Liverpool bomb could have caused 'significant injury or death', police say

19 November 2021, 10:45 | Updated: 19 November 2021, 13:03

The Liverpool bomber's explosive device "had ball bearings attached to it which would have acted as shrapnel" and could have "caused significant injury or death", police have said.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, Head of Counter Terrorism Police North West said: "We continue to make significant progress in relation to the counterterrorism incident at the Liverpool Women's Hospital.

"Officers spoke with the brother of Al Swealmeen yesterday evening and this has given us an insight into his early years and an understanding of Al Swealmeen's life and his recent state of mind which is an important line of investigation.

Read more: Liverpool bomber 'exploited' asylum loophole to stay in UK - Home Sec

Read more: 'Vile': Tory councillor apologises for Jeremy Corbyn Liverpool bomb attack tweet

"We are grateful for members of the public who knew him and have contacted us.

"Although there is much scientific work to do on the device to determine what made it up, we have learned a great deal over the past five days."

Taxi explodes outside Liverpool Women's Hospital

He went on to say the the device was made using a "homemade explosive" and had "ball bearings attached to it which would have acted as shrapnel".

The Head of Counter Terrorism Police North West continued: "Had it detonated in different circumstances we believe it would have caused significant injury or death.

Read more: Pictured: ‘Christian convert’ refugee who died in Liverpool Poppy Day terror attack

Read more: CCTV footage shows Remembrance Sunday blast outside Liverpool hospital

"We still do not know how or why the device exploded when it did, but we are not discounting it being completely unintentional, and it is a possibility that the movement of the vehicle or its stopping caused the ignition.

"We are spending considerable time seeking to understand the way the purchases for the ingredients to make the device were made. This is complicated because purchases have spanned many months and Al Swealmeen has used many aliases.

Ex-Head of Met Special Operations on Liverpool bombing

"We are confident however that in time we will get a full picture of what purchases were made and how, and if anyone else was involved or knew what Al Swealmeen was up to.

"We have found no connection between this incident and the terrible events of Manchester in May 2017. The device was also different to the one used in the Manchester Arena attack.

"The investigation is still moving at a very fast pace and will continue into the weekend and the coming weeks."