The Mayor of Liverpool has praised a heroic taxi driver who stepped in after the car explosion outside the city’s Women’s Hospital.
Joanne Anderson thanked the cabbie for diverting ‘what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital’.
She said he was able to lock the doors of a car during the incident on Sunday morning, in which one man died and another suffered serious injuries.
The Mirror reports the taxi driver locked the attacker in his car after spotting a device, although this has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Anderson said: “The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital.
READ MORE: Residents evacuated amid counter terror investigation into car explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital
“Our thanks go to him and our emergency services, and authorities have worked through the night to divert anything further and we’ve all been on standby and in constant contact to provide any support that’s needed.”
She added: “Well, we knew that the taxi driver had stood out and locked the doors, we knew that early on”.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
However, she added it was important not to get drawn into speculation about the incident.
“I think it’s important not to get drawn into any, you know, what might have been”, she said.
“Our authorities have kept us updated. You know, not only dealing with the incident, but engaging with us as city leaders and council staff, as well as keeping the public informed.
“And I think it’s just important to let them tell us what’s happened.”
Ms Anderson thanked emergency services for responding to the blast within minutes.
She said: “Our emergency services were on the scene within minutes (and) have done a fantastic job of dealing with this incident and working with all the authorities throughout the night. Our job is to be calm and support our emergency services to do the job.”
Three men – aged 21, 26 and 29 – were arrested under the Terrorism Act in the Kensington area last night in connection with the probe, which is being led by counter terrorism police, the Echo reports.
The three arrests took place on Sutcliffe Street, where witnesses reported seeing armed officers swoop on a terraced house in the afternoon.
(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Sections of Sutcliffe Street and Boaler Street have been cordoned off, with a heavy police presence at the scene as inquiries continue.
A similar police cordon was in place at Rutland Avenue, where Greater Manchester Police said several homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Ms Anderson said a number of people were put into hotels overnight, but that ‘most people should be able to go about their day today’.
Security services are assisting the police investigation this morning.
Counter-terrorism police have said they are keeping an open mind about the cause of the explosion and are working closely with Merseyside Police and, according to reports, MI5.
A police cordon remained in place around Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Monday.
People were being allowed in and out of the hospital but officers could be seen at the entrance to the building and cars were being stopped for checks.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: “So far we understand that the car involved was a taxi which pulled up at the hospital shortly before the explosion occurred.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident in Liverpool today.
“I want to thank the emergency services for their quick response and professionalism, and the police for their ongoing work on the investigation.”
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