An explosive device, believed to be a nail bomb, has exploded in a teacher's car outside a school in Liverpool.
An explosive device, believed to be a nail bomb, has exploded in a teacher's car outside a school in Liverpool.
The blast happened outside Runnymede St Edward's in Sandfield Park, West Derby - an independent Catholic school.
The blast happened outside Runnymede St Edward's in Sandfield Park, West Derby - an independent Catholic school.
No-one was injured by the device, which Merseyside Police described as "improvised". Local residents described it as a nail bomb.
No-one was hurt by the device, which local residents have described as a nail bomb.
Supt Ian Pilling, of Merseyside Police, described the incident as a "despicable and unusual act".
Supt Ian Pilling described the incident as a "despicable". He said children were leaving at the time and it was lucky no-one was injured.
Roads around the school grounds, which is a few miles outside the city centre, have been cordoned off by police.
Roads around the school grounds, which is a few miles outside the city centre, have been cordoned off by police.
The school was evacuated immediately after the device went off, the police spokesman said.
The school was evacuated immediately after the device went off, a police spokesman said.
Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage Insp Michael O'Callaghan
I think if they had actually been inside the vehicle they would have been seriously injured or quite possibly killed Supt Ian Pilling
Insp Michael O'Callaghan, of Merseyside Police, said: "What caused the explosion and the reasons behind it, we are investigating. Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage."
The interior of the car was extensively damaged and the windows were smashed by the blast.
Police confirmed the silver saloon belonged to a teacher and said the timing of the blast could have proved fatal.
Speaking near the cordoned-off entrance to the private school, Supt Ian Pilling said: "Children were in the process of leaving.Nobody was killed or injured but that was down to good luck."
He added: "I think if they had actually been inside the vehicle they would have been seriously injured or quite possibly killed.
"This type of offence is despicable, particularly as it was close to a school at a time when the students were due to leave.
"This is an extremely unusual offence and I would like to reassure the public that it appears to be an isolated incident."
Witness appeal
Forensic teams remain at the scene carrying out a fingertip search of the scene and the car.
Merseyside Police said a man was seen running away from the scene after the blast and are appealing for witnesses.
Local resident Damon Younis, 38, who lives next to the school, said: "There was a bomb, it was a nail bomb. I don't think anyone was injured."
Local resident Damon Younis, 38, who lives next to the school, said: "There was a bomb, it was a nail bomb. I don't think anyone was injured."
Detectives are carrying out house-to-house inquiries and said the incident was "highly unusual" for the area.
Uniformed patrols will also be stepped up in the vicinity to reassure local residents.
Runnymede St Edward's is a Catholic independent school for boys and girls between the ages of three and 11, and is Choir School to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Liverpool.
Runnymede St Edward's is a Catholic independent school for boys and girls between the ages of three and 11, and is Choir School to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Liverpool.
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