Liverpool hospital explosion – Hero taxi driver Dave Perry locked suspected Remembrance Day terrorist in cab with bomb
A HERO taxi driver thwarted a Remembrance Day bomb tragedy by trapping a suspected terrorist in his cab.
Brave Dave Perry leapt from the car and locked the doors as the device exploded at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday — killing only the male passenger who carried the bomb.
Last night, David was stable in hospital with burns and shrapnel injuries, including damage to his ear.
Billy Darwin was among those paying tribute last night, posting online: “DAVID PERRY The Liverpool HERO!!!!”
He added: “David nearly paid the ultimate price to save others, apparently not giving anything a second thought besides making sure he went above and beyond to keep the people of Our City safe!”
Stephen Thomas added: “The driver is my mate, and spotted the passenger acting suspiciously, so he jumped out the car…. This guy blew himself up, but my friend is OK. He sustained a few injuries, burns, burst eardrums and some shrapnel, but he’s OK.”
Read our Liverpool explosion live blog for the latest updates…
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Loud bangs were heard
People living near the hospital had reported hearing loud bangs before seeing smoke rising.
Dad-of-two Matt Kerr, 52, said: “I had just sat down to watch the Remembrance Sunday service when I heard a bang. I looked out and saw smoke, then there were police everywhere and helicopters.
“It’s scary to think someone might have wanted to hurt women and children.”
Shop worker Sandra Hughes, 35, said: “I saw people being turned away from hospital. It’s terrifying to think that someone wanted to attack a hospital.”
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Heavy armed police presence
Meanwhile, armed cops descended on a house in Kensington — two miles from the hospital.
Neighbours said two men were taken away shortly after 4pm.
Resident Chris Lee, 31, said: “They were bundled into a van. They had been grabbed from one of the houses. I had never seen them before.”
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Residents were told to stay in their homes
Just hours after the blast, residents of a street near the city’s Sefton Park were told to remain in their homes by armed police.
More than a dozen officers sealed off the district’s Rutland Avenue.
A police spokesman confirmed that the activity, focussing on a semi-detached property that appeared to be unoccupied, was linked to the hospital explosion. One resident said officers had been negotiating with a resident.
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Merseyside Police statement
Merseyside Police’s chief constable Serena Kennedy gave a statement outside the hospital, saying: “So far we understand that the car involved was a taxi which pulled up at the hospital shortly before the explosion occurred.
“Work is still going on to establish what has happened, and could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything.
“We are keeping an open mind as to what caused the explosion but given how it has happened, out of caution, Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation supported by Merseyside Police.”
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Next 24 hours are ‘critical’
Sources said that the next 24 hours would be critical, with experienced anti-terror detectives from Scotland Yard also being asked to lend their expertise.
Merseyside Police confirmed it had handed over the investigation to colleagues from the North West Counter-Terrorism unit, which regularly targets Islamist and far-right inspired terror suspects.
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Smoke and flames covered the car
Graphic pictures and videos captured the private hire taxi with smoke and flames billowing from it near the main entrance to Liverpool Women’s Hospital as horrified staff and patients looked on.
Detectives had not last night declared the blast a terrorist attack.
Security sources said “all options are on the table”, as a major investigation began.
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Piers Morgan hails ‘absolute hero’ David Perry for ‘locking suspect in taxi before blast’
PIERS Morgan has praised a “hero” cabbie who locked a suspected terrorist in his taxi before a hospital bomb blast.
Dave Perry was injured after leaping from the car at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday during the Remembrance Day horror.
His brave actions meant the male passenger carrying the bomb was the only person killed as the taxi erupted into a fireball.
TV host Piers today hailed Dave, who was left with burns and shrapnel injuries, as a “hero”.
He tweeted: “This is Liverpool taxi driver David Perry who locked a Remembrance Sunday terrorist in his cab seconds before the bomber detonated an explosive device right outside a maternity hospital.
“David’s actions almost certainly saved many lives. He is an absolute hero.
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Security expert suggested ‘IS’ could be behind blast
Last night, security expert Will Geddes, of International Corporate Protection, suggested IS could be behind the blast because of:
- TARGET — IS has targeted several hospitals and medical facilities in Afghanistan recently.
- TIMING — around 11am on Remembrance Sunday as the nation honoured its war dead.
- CAUSE — Mr Geddes suspects it was a VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) also associated with the fanatics.
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Explosion was close to large remembrance service
The blast occurred close to the Liverpool Cathedral which was hosting one of the country’s largest Remembrance Sunday services with more than 2,000 people. It is less than a mile from the hospital.
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Three men have been arrested
Three men aged 21, 26 and 29 were later arrested elsewhere in the city under the Terrorism Act.
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Blast happened at 10:59am
The car blew up in Liverpool at 10.59am, killing its “suspicious-looking” passenger as the country prepared to mark the Fallen at 11am.
Pals of the injured taxi driver, who was in a stable condition last night, said he acted courageously to thwart a bombing of the hospital, where 30 babies are born each day.
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Liverpool hero ‘stable’ in hospital
Last night, David was stable in hospital with burns and shrapnel injuries, including damage to his ear.
Billy Darwin was among those paying tribute last night, posting online: “DAVID PERRY The Liverpool HERO!!!!”
He added: “David nearly paid the ultimate price to save others, apparently not giving anything a second thought besides making sure he went above and beyond to keep the people of Our City safe!”
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Liverpool hospital explosion
A HERO taxi driver thwarted a Remembrance Day bomb tragedy by trapping a suspected terrorist in his cab.
Brave Dave Perry leapt from the car and locked the doors as the device exploded at Liverpool Women’s Hospital yesterday — killing only the male passenger who carried the bomb.
