Terrifying images emerge after deadly blast outside hospital

Counter-terrorism officers have arrested three men after a vehicle exploded outside a hospital in the northern English city of Liverpool, killing one person and wounding another.

A male passenger in the car was declared dead at the scene on Sunday, while the male driver was injured and was in hospital in a stable condition, police said.

Counter-terrorism officers were investigating the case with local police and were keeping an open mind as to what had happened.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with those people affected and interior minister Priti Patel said she was being kept regularly updated.

Three men - aged 29, 26, and 21 - were detained in the Kensington area of the city and arrested under the Terrorism Act, police said in a statement.

Disturbing images of the burning car following the blast have been circulating on social media.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said police were called to reports of a car explosion just before 11am outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, just as a Remembrance Day Service was commemorating war dead at the nearby Liverpool Cathedral.

Taxi believed involved in horror blast

Police understand the car involved was a taxi that pulled up at the hospital shortly before the explosion occurred.

"Work is still ongoing to establish what has happened," Kennedy told reporters.

"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."

Police said the explosion had not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage.

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