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Liverpool bomber made device with murderous intent, coroner says Liverpool bomber made device with murderous intent, coroner says
(32 minutes later)
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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
The Liverpool bomber died from an explosion and fire caused by a device he manufactured with "murderous intent", a coroner has ruled.The Liverpool bomber died from an explosion and fire caused by a device he manufactured with "murderous intent", a coroner has ruled.
Emad Al Swealmeen was killed when his bomb went off while he was inside a taxi at Liverpool Women's Hospital.Emad Al Swealmeen was killed when his bomb went off while he was inside a taxi at Liverpool Women's Hospital.
Senior coroner Andre Rebello said it was unclear whether he intended the device to detonate when it did.Senior coroner Andre Rebello said it was unclear whether he intended the device to detonate when it did.
The inquest heard Al Swealmeen rang his brother two days before he died and suggested he might do "something bad".The inquest heard Al Swealmeen rang his brother two days before he died and suggested he might do "something bad".
Iraqi-born Al Swealmeen, 32, was a passenger in the taxi when the bomb went off at 10:59 GMT on Remembrance Sunday. Iraqi-born Al Swealmeen, 32, was a passenger in the taxi when the bomb went off at 10:59 GMT on 14 November.
The driver, David Perry, was taken to hospital but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.The driver, David Perry, was taken to hospital but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Emad Al Swealmeen was the passenger in a taxi which was destroyed by his bomb
Recording a narrative conclusion at Liverpool and Wirral Coroner's Court, Mr Rebello said Al Swealmeen had carried the improvised device into the taxi.Recording a narrative conclusion at Liverpool and Wirral Coroner's Court, Mr Rebello said Al Swealmeen had carried the improvised device into the taxi.
He said Al Swealmeen had made the bomb at a flat he had rented in Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park in Liverpool.He said Al Swealmeen had made the bomb at a flat he had rented in Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park in Liverpool.
"It is found he manufactured the improvised explosive device, designed to project shrapnel, with murderous intent," he added."It is found he manufactured the improvised explosive device, designed to project shrapnel, with murderous intent," he added.
Miracle I'm alive, says Liverpool bomb taxi driver Emad Al Swealmeen was the passenger in a taxi which was destroyed by his bomb
Liverpool explosion: What we know so far The inquest heard Al Swealmeen was a resident at premises provided by the Home Office in Sutcliffe Street, in the Kensington area of Liverpool.
Liverpool bomber planning attack since April But since April he had rented a self-contained flat in Rutland Avenue where he paid the rent monthly in cash.
The inquest heard Al Swealmeen was resident at premises provided by the Home Office in Sutcliffe Street, in the Kensington area of Liverpool.
But since April he had rented a self-contained flat in Rutland Avenue, near Sefton Park in the city, where he paid the rent monthly in cash.
Det Ch Insp Andrew Meeks, the senior investigating officer in the case, said it was accurate to describe the Rutland Avenue address as a "bomb-making factory".Det Ch Insp Andrew Meeks, the senior investigating officer in the case, said it was accurate to describe the Rutland Avenue address as a "bomb-making factory".
He said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else had been involved with the procurement of materials or construction of the device but investigations were continuing.He said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else had been involved with the procurement of materials or construction of the device but investigations were continuing.
The inquest heard the explosion propelled ball bearings forward into the taxi to the extent the front windscreen was forced out and travelled (52ft) 16m, where it hit a tree.
There was also damage to some of the windows of the hospital, the hearing was told.
Al Swealmeen was identified by records held on a police system, and forensic pathologist Jonathan Metcalfe found the cause of death was the effects of an explosion with fire.
David Perry, pictured with his wife Rachel, was injured in the blastDavid Perry, pictured with his wife Rachel, was injured in the blast
The inquest heard that Mr Perry was working on the morning of 14 November when a job came in for Rutland Avenue. The inquest heard Al Swealmeen got in a rear passenger seat in the taxi outside the Rutland Avenue property and the only words he spoke were "Women's Hospital".
Mr Rebello said a male came down the steps of the house and walked around the back of the car into the rear passenger seat and the only words he spoke were "Women's Hospital". Taxi driver Mr Perry drove to the hospital and stopped outside the front entrance.
The inquest was told taxi driver Mr Perry drove to the hospital and stopped outside the front entrance.
"As his car came to a stop he didn't notice anything unusual, no warning, no movement from the passenger, just the blast," Mr Rebello said."As his car came to a stop he didn't notice anything unusual, no warning, no movement from the passenger, just the blast," Mr Rebello said.
"He described the journey as non-eventful, saying if the bomb hadn't gone off he wouldn't have remembered anything about the journey.""He described the journey as non-eventful, saying if the bomb hadn't gone off he wouldn't have remembered anything about the journey."
Miracle I'm alive, says Liverpool bomb taxi driver
Liverpool explosion: What we know so far
Liverpool bomber planning attack since April
The inquest heard Mr Perry was thrown forwards and blacked out for a couple of seconds after the blast.
When he became conscious again he felt burning to his back and managed to stagger out of the car, the coroner said.
"He could see smoke and smell burning plastic and the smell of burning body and thought 'I'm dead if I don't get out'," Mr Rebello added.
Mr Perry suffered three fractures to the bottom of his back and damage to his eardrums.
"I suppose he is probably one of the unluckiest taxi drivers around and yet possibly one of the luckiest given what could have been," Mr Rebello said.
The taxi was removed from outside the hospital several days after the blastThe taxi was removed from outside the hospital several days after the blast
The inquest heard Al Swealmeen came to the country legally in May 2014 with a Jordanian passport and UK visa. The inquest heard Al Swealmeen rang his brother, who lives in America, on 12 November - two days before he died in the blast.
Mr Rebello told the inquest: "He says towards the end of call Emad said something like 'if I do something bad that will affect the family what do you think?'
"He replied something like 'don't do [anything]', advising him as an older brother, although this was something which caused him concern, knowing his previous issues."
Al Swealmeen had been in prison in the Middle East for a serious assault on another person, as well as being in trouble in Liverpool previously for possession of an offensive weapon, the inquest heard.
Det Ch Insp Meeks confirmed Al Swealmeen was not on the radar of security services.
Mr Rebello said: "One thing that struck me was this lone actor from a disrupted family, with a bit of a chaotic background, could well have killed many, many innocent people and there doesn't appear to have been any opportunity to have detected this was about to happen.
"It is something that has been planned over many, many months."
Emad Al Swealmeen (on right in light grey jacket) during a service at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, alongside the bishop Right Reverend Cyril Ashton
Al Swealmeen came to the country legally in May 2014 with a Jordanian passport and UK visa, the inquest heard.
Mr Rebello said: "Shortly after his arrival he claimed, it is believed falsely, that he was of Syrian heritage and claimed asylum as a refugee from that country."Mr Rebello said: "Shortly after his arrival he claimed, it is believed falsely, that he was of Syrian heritage and claimed asylum as a refugee from that country."
He said that claim and all subsequent claims for asylum were refused, with the latest refusal in November 2020.He said that claim and all subsequent claims for asylum were refused, with the latest refusal in November 2020.
Mr Rebello said there had been reports Al Swealmeen had rejected Islam and converted to Christianity.Mr Rebello said there had been reports Al Swealmeen had rejected Islam and converted to Christianity.
He asked Det Ch Insp Meeks if this could be to strengthen his asylum claim.He asked Det Ch Insp Meeks if this could be to strengthen his asylum claim.
"I'd agree with that because he would claim he'd be liable to persecution on return to Syria or Iraq," the officer said."I'd agree with that because he would claim he'd be liable to persecution on return to Syria or Iraq," the officer said.
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