Threat level rises in UK after taxi explosion

Britain has raised its national threat level to “severe” after police identified the suspect behind a terrorist explosion that set fire to a taxi outside a Liverpool hospital.

The suspect, Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, was killed in Sunday’s blast, which police have called a “terrorist incident,” according to a statement from Greater Manchester Police.

Swealmeen got into the taxi and asked to be taken to the hospital, which was about 10 minutes away. The explosion occurred as the taxi approached the drop-off area of ​​the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Although Swealmeen died in the incident, the driver survived and was released after receiving treatment for injuries.

The blast took place around 11 a.m. Sunday as a Remembrance Day service honoring those lost in war was held not far away at Liverpool Cathedral, according to OkeyNews.

OkeyNews added that police were investigating whether the events were related.

The Greater Manchester Police statement added that police were investigating two addresses related to Swealmeen and had recovered important items.

“We continue to appeal for any information on this incident and now that we have released his name, any information that the public may have about Al Swealmeen, no matter how small, may be of great help to us,” said Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks. in the statement.

Interior Minister Priti Patel said the blast was the second fatal incident in a month after the stabbing of David Amess.

After the stabbing of Amess, an MP, the UK raised the level of a terrorist threat against lawmakers from “moderate” to “substantial” last month.