Liverpool Women's Hospital blast: 'Hero' taxi driver David Perry escapes cab in shocking CCTV explosion footage
Watch: CCTV shows 'hero' taxi driver escaping explosion at Liverpool hospital
UK terror threat upgraded to severe
Cab driver David Perry hailed a 'hero'
Passenger died in the explosion
Four men arrested, say counter terror police
This is the moment a ‘hero’ taxi driver escaped from his car after it exploded at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in what police have now declared as a terrorist incident.
CCTV footage shows the cab pulling up to the hospital at 10.59am on Remembrance Sunday before the blast goes off.
The taxi driver, who has been named locally as David Perry, jumped out of the car before it burst into flames.
Perry has been praised for his quick thinking, reportedly foiling a bomber by locking him in his vehicle after noticing an explosive device.
Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference on Monday that the attack outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital was “sickening”.
The prime minister said: “What yesterday showed above all is that the British people will never be cowed by terrorism, we will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence.
“And our freedoms and our way of life will always prevail.”
The UK terror threat level has been increased to "severe".
Four men have since been arrested in the Kensington area of Liverpool under the Terrorism Act.
The passenger in the taxi was declared dead at the scene and is yet to be publicly identified.
Perry, who suffered injuries in the blast, has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.
In a press conference on Monday, police said the explosion was an act of terrorism.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, from Counter Terrorism North West, said the man who died in the blast brought a homemade bomb with him into a taxi and asked to be taken to Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
He added police believe they know the identity of the passenger.
He said: “The reason why he then took it to the women’s hospital is unknown, as is the reason for its sudden explosion.
“We are of course aware that there were Remembrance events just a short distance away from the hospital and that the ignition occurred shortly before 11am.
“We cannot at this time draw any connection with this but it is a line of inquiry we are pursuing.”
Asst Chief Constable Jackson said he had spoken to the taxi driver, but at the time he was still shaken and injured.
Also on Monday, the UK terror threat was raised from "substantial" to "severe" by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), meaning an attack is now judged to be "highly likely".
Home secretary Priti Patel said the terror threat level had been raised because there had been two attacks in the space of a month.
Speaking about the incident in Liverpool, she said it had had a "very significant impact across the community" and that her thoughts were with people in the city.
Meanwhile, health secretary Sajid Javid paid tribute to NHS staff at Liverpool Women’s Hospital who were affected by the explosion outside the building at the weekend.
In the Commons, Javid said: “This is an ongoing investigation into what has now been declared a terrorist incident by police so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment in any detail.
“But I would like to take a moment to express my thanks to all of the NHS staff and emergency serves who have responded to the incident.
“They have shown the utmost professionalism in the most difficult of circumstances and my thoughts, and I know the thoughts of the whole House, are with them and anyone that has been affected.”
Watch: Prime minister praises bravery of taxi driver in Liverpool explosion
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson praised the “heroic” cabbie, who had managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital.
It is believed Perry works for Liverpool cab firm Delta Taxis. The firm declined to comment when contacted by Yahoo News UK.
The blast happened about a mile away from the city’s Anglican cathedral where a large Remembrance service was taking place.
Phil Garrigan, chief fire officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said the car fire was “fully developed” when two crews arrived shortly after 11am.
He told reporters at the scene the fire was extinguished “rapidly” but there was one fatality, adding: “Another individual had left the vehicle prior to the fire developing to the extent that it did.”
Watch: Police at scene of hospital explosion after arrests
