Merseyside Police can confirm that at 10.59am today (Sunday, 14 November) police were called to reports of a car explosion at the Women's Hospital in Liverpool city centre.

Police immediately attended, along with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Regional Ambulance Service.

Unfortunately, we can confirm that one person has died and another has been taken to hospital where he is being treated for his injuries, which thankfully are not life threatening.

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.

The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents. Our response is ongoing at the hospital and will be for some time. Cordons are in place, and there are some road closures.

We have triggered our information channels - to inform the local community and businesses about what information we do have and can provide

We would urge the public to remain calm (but vigilant). To keep updated on what is happening, keep watching the news and checking the Merseyside Police website.

If you have not done so already, sign up to the Merseyside Police Twitter feed @merseypolice

We would like to thank the public for their patience and their cooperation today which has already greatly assisted our policing response.

We will issue updates as soon as we have more information.

This has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage although out of caution CT detectives are leading as we try to understand the circumstances behind the explosion

Updated reports from Liverpool Echo

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...s-two-22164133

One twitter report said: Just had some info on Liverpool womens hospital.Inside info from delta drivers is that it was a women wearing a suicide vest and the driver seen it on her and locked her in the car and ran before it blew up. He is ok but in a bad way, had his ear blown off and a few burns

Another twitter report about the taxi driver (unconfirmed)

Liverpool Echo are providing live coverage

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...alled-22162461

Telegraph reports just now:

Officers in Merseyside have made three arrests this afternoon after a car explosion outside the Women's Hospital in Liverpool.

The men - aged 29, 26, and 21 - were detained in the Kensington area of the city and arrested under the Terrorism Act

BBC North West reporter just posted:

Shots from two videos sent in to qlocal

Several reports on twitter that this was the hero taxi driver. A FB fund has been set up already raising over £2,500/ Despite saying it was a woman in the taxi most national media saying it was a man

I bet the termites arrested and the cinders in the taxi were all known to the security services. We could learn a thing or two from Russia and China. If someone is believed to be a threat to security they get a knock on the door at 4am and are never seen again.

Originally Posted by editor

One twitter report said: Just had some info on Liverpool womens hospital.Inside info from delta drivers is that it was a women wearing a suicide vest and the driver seen it on her and locked her in the car and ran before it blew up. He is ok but in a bad way, had his ear blown off and a few burns

Taxi was still moving with the driver inside when it went off.