It was revealed that the Liverpool bomber, who planned his attack on a hospital in Liverpool, spent seven months testing different explosives.
According to police, Emad Al Swealmeen (32), started making bombs at his rented bed in April.
There are trace marks at the location that indicate he bought multiple types of chemicals, which can be combined to create explosives. These included the type used by the 7/7 London Bombers.
Detectives are trying to untangle a ‘complex picture’ of chemical purchases made both online and in shops.
Armed police raided the bomb factory in the Sefton Park area of Liverpool shortly after Al Swealmeen accidentally blew himself up at Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday.
Next day bomb disposal personnel conducted an explosive control explosion in the park. Rutland Avenue is still closed to Rutland Avenue where the explosives factory used to be located.
Yesterday afternoon officers established a perimeter around Sutcliffe Street in Kensington. It is believed that Al Swealmeen lived there.
According to police, Emad Al Swealmeen (pictured), 32, began building a bomb factory in a rented bedit in April.
Detectives are trying to untangle a ‘complex picture’ of chemical purchases made both online and in shops. Pictured are Liverpool Women’s Hospital’s forensic officers.
Security sources said there was little to suggest the Christian convert (pictured, left)was ideologically motivated – one theory is that he suffered a mental health crisis possibly triggered by his failure to win asylum
The bomb squad officers were present at the scene. A counter-terrorist police spokesperson said that several suspicious packages were found.
Residents were told to remain indoors, and other residents weren’t allowed to return to their homes. They were directed instead to the nearest primary school, where they could seek shelter.
Still being done are forensic investigations on the taxi that exploded, with Al Swealmeen in it. He died last night from injuries suffered in the blast, and the fire that followed.
Yesterday’s delivery driver told of seeing the blast. ‘I just heard this explosion – this loud bang,’ recalled Liam Spencer, 21.
‘At first I thought it could have been a car crash. I then saw that the car had exploded. The driver was clearly in a very bad state.
‘I ran back to check and that’s when I saw the man. His face was glowing. That’s when I ran to go and get a fire extinguisher and security came out with one.’
Russ Jackson, Assistant Chief Constable of Police, gave an update last night. He stated Al Swealmeen was born in Iraq and started to buy chemicals as early as April.
It was at this moment that the taxi carrying the suicide bomber detonated outside of Liverpool’s hospital. This attack is being investigated by police and MI5 as a Poppy Day terror act
An aerial view shows the effects of the blast at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Also, the taxi that was destroyed.
‘A complex picture is emerging over the purchases of the component parts of the device,’ Mr Jackson said.
‘We know that Al Swealmeen rented the property from April this year and we believe relevant purchases have been made at least since that time.
“He confirmed that the bomber suffered from mental illness, which will be part of the investigation.
Security sources said there was little to suggest the Christian convert was ideologically motivated – one theory is that he suffered a mental health crisis possibly triggered by his failure to win asylum.
After being accused of waving a knife at him and then threatening to jump off a bridge in Liverpool, he was sectioned.
Al Swealmeen was a keen pizza chef but also talked to leaders of the church about depression.
A shopkeeper told the Mail he was ‘obviously not right in the head’ and described how the motor racing fan, who adopted the name Enzo Almeni after the Ferrari legend, had threatened with a knife one of his staff staying at the same hostel.
‘He seemed to have mental health issues for a number of years,’ the man added.