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Liverpool bomber had been planning attack since April Liverpool bomber had been planning attack since April
(about 1 hour later)
Emad Al Swealmeen (on right in light grey jacket) during a service at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, alongside the bishop Right Reverend Cyril AshtonEmad Al Swealmeen (on right in light grey jacket) during a service at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, alongside the bishop Right Reverend Cyril Ashton
Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen began making purchases for his attack in April, counter-terror police have said.Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen began making purchases for his attack in April, counter-terror police have said.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the 32-year-old asylum seeker, who was born in Iraq, rented a property in the city seven months ago.Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the 32-year-old asylum seeker, who was born in Iraq, rented a property in the city seven months ago.
Al Swealmeen had suffered from periods of mental illness which will "form part of the investigation", he added.Al Swealmeen had suffered from periods of mental illness which will "form part of the investigation", he added.
A post-mortem found he died from injuries caused by the explosion. It comes as police extended a cordon at an address linked to him.
Christian convert Al Swealmeen was a passenger in a taxi when his homemade device exploded outside Liverpool Women's Hospital shortly before 11:00 GMT on Remembrance Sunday.Christian convert Al Swealmeen was a passenger in a taxi when his homemade device exploded outside Liverpool Women's Hospital shortly before 11:00 GMT on Remembrance Sunday.
A post-mortem found he died from injuries caused by the explosion and fire.
The driver David Perry escaped seconds before his car was engulfed in flames and has since been discharged from hospital.The driver David Perry escaped seconds before his car was engulfed in flames and has since been discharged from hospital.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the UK terror threat level had been raised from "substantial" to "severe", meaning an attack is "highly likely", because the explosion in Liverpool was the second incident in a month.
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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. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the UK terror threat level had been raised from "substantial" to "severe", meaning an attack is "highly likely", because the explosion in Liverpool was the second incident in a month.
"We have now traced a next of kin for Al Swealmeen who has informed us that he was born in Iraq." 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."
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".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".
The taxi has been removed from outside the hospital but searches by specialist officers will continue to take place, Mr Jackson said. On Monday evening, police released without charge four men who had been arrested under terrorism laws in Liverpool in connection with the attack.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services, said Al Swealmeen had received treatment in the past but was not under their care at the time of the explosion.
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Watch: The cab pulled up outside Liverpool Women's Hospital and exploded into flamesWatch: The cab pulled up outside Liverpool Women's Hospital and exploded into flames
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services, said Al Swealmeen had received treatment in the past but was not under their care at the time of the explosion. Police said Al Swealmeen 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.
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.Mr Jackson said "significant items" had been recovered from the Rutland Avenue address, where searches have been taking place.
"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 added. The cordon was extended in Sutcliffe Street on Wednesday afternoon to assess materials found inside a property, Counter Terrorism Policing North West said.
On Monday evening, police released without charge four men who had been arrested under terrorism laws in Liverpool in connection with the attack. "This is only as a precaution and we will provide updates when we have them," they added.
The taxi was removed from outside the hospital on Wednesday A Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal vehicle could be seen in nearby Boaler Street, along with a fire engine and four police vans.
The bomb disposal unit was at the scene of a police cordon in Kensington
The BBC has confirmed Al Swealmeen made a legal attempt to gain permission to stay in the UK, but it was rejected without being considered in court.The BBC has confirmed Al Swealmeen made a legal attempt to gain permission to stay in the UK, but it was rejected without being considered in court.
Malcolm Hitchcott, a Christian activist in Liverpool, said he and his wife offered Al Swealmeen a place to stay for eight months in 2017 after he told them he had lost his case and was destitute.Malcolm Hitchcott, a Christian activist in Liverpool, said he and his wife offered Al Swealmeen a place to stay for eight months in 2017 after he told them he had lost his case and was destitute.
"He was absolutely genuine, as far as I could tell. I was in no doubt by the time that he left us at the end of that eight months that he was a Christian," Mr Hitchcott told BBC Radio Merseyside."He was absolutely genuine, as far as I could tell. I was in no doubt by the time that he left us at the end of that eight months that he was a Christian," Mr Hitchcott told BBC Radio Merseyside.
Al Swealmeen was baptised at Liverpool Cathedral in 2015 and confirmed in 2017 but the Diocese of Liverpool's communications director, Stuart Haynes, said they lost contact with him in 2018.Al Swealmeen was baptised at Liverpool Cathedral in 2015 and confirmed in 2017 but the Diocese of Liverpool's communications director, Stuart Haynes, said they lost contact with him in 2018.
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The Right Reverend Cyril Ashton, the bishop who confirmed Al Swealmeen, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the bombing.The Right Reverend Cyril Ashton, the bishop who confirmed Al Swealmeen, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the bombing.
"His confirmation was one of hundreds I have conducted as a bishop so I have no specific recollection of the individual," he said.
The Church of England has said it is not aware of any link between conversion and asylum system abuse after newspaper reports suggested changing religion could be a way to "game the asylum system".The Church of England has said it is not aware of any link between conversion and asylum system abuse after newspaper reports suggested changing religion could be a way to "game the asylum system".
In a statement, the Church said "it is not the role of clergy" to establish whether an asylum claim was legitimate.
Liverpool Cathedral said it had "developed robust processes for discerning whether someone might be expressing a genuine commitment to faith".Liverpool Cathedral said it had "developed robust processes for discerning whether someone might be expressing a genuine commitment to faith".
Emad Al Swealmeen was born in Iraq, police have revealedEmad Al Swealmeen was born in Iraq, police have revealed
The Reverend Mike Hindley said Al Swealmeen was also involved in the Emmanuel Church in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool from 2017 to 2019, when they lost touch with him.The Reverend Mike Hindley said Al Swealmeen was also involved in the Emmanuel Church in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool from 2017 to 2019, when they lost touch with him.
He said Al Swealmeen, who parishioners knew as Enzo, "never made a secret" of the fact he had mental health problems but did not go into great detail about them with him.He said Al Swealmeen, who parishioners knew as Enzo, "never made a secret" of the fact he had mental health problems but did not go into great detail about them with him.
A spokesman for the City of Liverpool College said Al Swealmeen was an adult cake decorating student at the college during the 2018-2019 academic year.A spokesman for the City of Liverpool College said Al Swealmeen was an adult cake decorating student at the college during the 2018-2019 academic year.
Joy Gambardella, a lay reader at Emmanuel Church, said he loved baking cakes and making pizza. Joy Gambardella, a lay reader at Emmanuel Church, said he "used to make cakes for the church and sell them".
"He used to make cakes for the church and sell them," she said.
Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of Liverpool Women's Hospital, praised her "amazing" and "resilient staff" for their response to the "traumatic" incident.Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of Liverpool Women's Hospital, praised her "amazing" and "resilient staff" for their response to the "traumatic" incident.
She said the hospital was a "much loved" part of the city so "the fact an incident like this could take place at a women's hospital has shocked everyone" and they were "still coming to terms with what happened". She said the hospital was a "much loved" part of the city and "the fact an incident like this could take place at a women's hospital has shocked everyone".
The homemade device exploded in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital