Three men were arrested under the Terrorism Act after one man died and another man was injured in a car explosion at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Emergency services were called to the hospital’s car park following reports of an explosion on Sunday morning.

The incident sparked significant police activity across the city, with specialist officers – including armed police – involved in operations near Sefton Park and in Kensington, the area in which the suspects were arrested.

Read More:Live updates as Liverpool Women’s explosion leaves one person dead

Police, fire and ambulance crews were supported by a bomb disposal unit as they were dispatched to the Women’s Hospital after receiving reports of the explosion at 10.59am.

One man died as a result of the explosion and another man was taken to hospital with injuries that Merseyside Police said were not believed to be life threatening.

Detectives believe the car involved was a taxi that had arrived outside the hospital moments earlier.

Images and video claiming to show the fire and, later, the burnt out wreckage of the vehicle, showed a car engulfed in flames and smoke billowing from the hospital car park.

That car park was cordoned off in the immediate aftermath of the blaze, with public access to the building heavily restricted and some people turned away from the premises. A major incident was declared by the emergency services, meaning extra resources could be mobilised if needed.

Patients were diverted to other hospitals where possible but ambulances did continue to be accepted in emergency situations, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust said.

The hospital car park quickly became the centre of operations for an inquiry that was supported by a specialist Incident Command Unit ran by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and was quickly passed onto counter terrorism officials.

This was publicly confirmed just after 3.30pm, when Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, gave a statement outside the hospital.

She said: “I can confirm that at 10.59am today police were called to reports of a car explosion at the Women’s Hospital in Liverpool city centre.

“Police immediately attended, along with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS)and the North West Regional Ambulance Service.

“Unfortunately, I 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 ongoing to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything.

“We are keeping an open mind as to what caused the explosion but given how it has happened, and out of caution, Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation supported by Merseyside Police.”

Phil Garrigan, Chief Fire Officer at MFRS, said his crews were confronted with a “fully developed fire” that was quickly extinguished.

He added that the survivor of the explosion was believed to have “left the vehicle prior to the fire developing to the extent that it did”.

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s NHS Trust said activity for the next 24-48 hours would be reviewed and that patients should wait to be contacted for updates.

As the statements were read, police officers lined the grass embankment that separates the hospital car park from Upper Parliament Street as close watch was kept on the surrounding area.

In the hours that followed, attention turned to two residential areas that became the scene of heavy police activity.

Armed officers were involved in what appeared to be an hours-long stand off outside a property in Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park.

Video footage obtained by the ECHO showed the street flooded with police vehicles and officers in the road outside.

Those who lived on the street reported being told not to leave their homes, with one resident telling the ECHO: “At the Ullet Road end there is about four police vehicles, one is jack-knifed in the middle of the road and another vehicle is in front of that.

“At the other end it’s cordoned off and there is police there. At the Ullet Road end there are what looks like police marksmen.

“All the residents have been told to stay indoors and the police gave no further information.”

The woman said she felt “alarmed” by the dramatic scene unfolding outside her home.

Elsewhere, in Kensington, police cordoned off the full length of Boaler Street and witnesses claimed they had seen armed police lead people out of a property close to the road’s junction with Sutcliffe Street, where a police cordon had also been set up.

Just after 6.30pm, Counter Terrorism Police – which confirmed the police activity near Sefton Park and in Kensington was linked to the investigation into the explosion – announced that three men had been arrested.

In a Tweet released through Greater Manchester Police, the unit said: “Officers in Merseyside have arrested three men – aged 29, 26 and 21 – in the Kensington area of Liverpool under the Terrorism Act.

“Counter Terrorism Police North West is continuing to work closely with colleagues at Merseyside Police as our investigation continues at pace.”

As details continued to emerge of the troubling incident, city leaders released their thoughts on the explosion and the ongoing investigation.

Among them was The Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, who said in a statement: “This morning’s tragic incident at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital has understandably caused a great deal of concern.

“Given the police investigation is ongoing, we need to refrain from speculation so that the facts can be established.

“The emergency services have been excellent in their handling of this incident and I offer them my sincere thanks.

“The response time to the scene was fantastically swift and the vehicle fire was out within minutes ensuring any other damage to property or harm to individuals was contained.

“This incident has clearly had a big impact on the hospital itself, especially the patients, their families and staff.

“The next 24 hours will be critical to the investigation, as a result the hospital will need to cancel patient visits to assist this process.

“For those who have appointments at the Women’s over the next 24 hours please do not come to the hospital until you have been contacted by staff and instructed to do so.

“It is vitally important that everyone remains calm during this stressful situation and allow the police to conduct their investigation in the appropriate manner.”

On Sunday night the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, released a tweet in which he said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident in Liverpool today.

“I want to thank the emergency services for their quick response and professionalism, and the police for their ongoing work on the investigation.”

Priti Patel MP, the Home Secretary, also said in a Tweet: “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.”

In an additional statement released on Sunday night, Chief Constable Kennedy offered her reassurance and urged the public to remain vigilant.

She said: “While I understand that today’s incident may cause concern in our communities, it should be pointed out that events of this nature are very rare.

“Officers from Counter Terrorism North West are leading the investigation supported by Merseyside Police and they will be liaising with our partners at Mersey Fire and Rescue and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital to establish what has taken place.

“Three males have today been arrested in the Kensington area under the Terrorism Act and remain in custody and enquiries remain ongoing.

“Merseyside Police will continue to liaise with community groups, community leaders, partner agencies and individuals in the coming days and weeks to make sure any concerns are addressed and ensuring that we provide the best possible service to local people.

“There will also be an increased and visible police presence on the streets of Merseyside and I would encourage people to engage with my officers and raise any concerns they may have.

“It is also important that, at this very early stage, people do not speculate about what has happened. We will endeavour to update our communities as soon as we are able.

“I would continue to advise people to be vigilant and if they have any concerns to contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

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