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Liverpool bomber planning attack since April Liverpool bomber had been planning attack since April
(33 minutes later)
Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen began making purchases for his attack in April, counter-terror police believe. Emad Al Swealmeen (on right in light grey jacket) during a service at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, alongside the bishop Right Reverend Cyril Ashton
The 32-year-old was born in Iraq, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West Russ Jackson said. Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen began making purchases for his attack in April, counter-terror police have said.
"The taxi in which the device exploded has now been removed and today line searches by specialist officers will take place at the hospital," he said. Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the asylum seeker, who was born in Iraq, had rented a property in the city seven months ago.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Al Swealmeen had suffered from periods of mental illness which will "form part of the investigation", he added.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. A post-mortem found he died from injuries caused by explosion.
Al Swealmeen, 32, was a passenger in a taxi when his homemade device outside Liverpool Women's Hospital shortly before 11:00 GMT on Remembrance Sunday.
The incident has been declared a terrorist attack and the UK terror threat level has since been raised from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely".
Mr Jackson, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: "A complex picture is emerging over the purchases of the component parts of the device, we know that Al Swealmeen rented the property from April this year and we believe relevant purchases have been made at least since that time.
"We have now traced a next of kin for Al Swealmeen who has informed us that he was born in Iraq."
He said police were "not finding any link to others in the Merseyside area of concern but this remains a fast moving investigation and as more becomes known we cannot rule out action against others".
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Watch: The cab pulled up outside Liverpool Women's Hospital and exploded into flames
Mr Jackson also said Al Swealmeen had suffered from periods of mental illness and that will "form part of the investigation and will take some time to fully understand".
"We continue to appeal for people who knew him, especially those who associated with him this year as we try and piece together the events leading up to this incident and the reasons for it," he said.
Police said he had lived at a property in Sutcliffe Street, in the Kensington area of Liverpool, for some time and began renting a property in Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park, in April.
Mr Jackson said "significant items" had been recovered from the Rutland Avenue address, where searches have been taking place since Sunday.
Al Swealmeen was a failed asylum seeker who had been refused permission by judges to appeal to stay in the country.
The BBC has confirmed he made a legal attempt to gain permission to stay in the UK, but it was rejected without being considered in court.