Blast outside Liverpool hospital caused by man who brought explosive device into taxi, UK police

Police in the United Kingdom say that the blast outside of a Liverpool hospital occurred when a terrorist brought a homemade explosive device into a taxi.

On Monday, law enforcement said that the passenger is believed to have entered the vehicle with an explosive device that suddenly detonated, killing the man. The driver, however, was able to escape the blast. Police have arrested four men, all in their 20s, and believe they know the identity of the suspect. 

"Our enquiries indicate that an improvised explosive device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi," said Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson of the Counter Terrorism North West unit. 

The taxi had reached the parking lot of the Women's Hospital in Liverpool at the time of the explosion. The hospital specializes in women's reproductive care including pre-and-postnatal care, midwifery and abortion services.

Jackson said the motivation for the incident remains unclear at this time.

The driver of the taxi has been praised by the mayor of Liverpool and Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his quick thinking in locking and escaping the car.