Witnesses have revealed that he attempted to save the Poppy Day bomber just seconds after it detonated, but later learned that he was actually a terrorist.
Liam Spencer was a driver and told of how he tried out to capture Emad Al Swaalmeen, the taxi’s attacker, from his vehicle moments after it burst outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Stephanie Stitt (20-year-old partner of Mr Spencer) was in her car, just metres from the taxi, when the bomb was detonated.
Delivery driver Liam Spencer told how he tried to ‘grab’ terrorist Emad Al Swealmeen from a car moments after his device went off. He is now circled. He didn’t realize he was a suicide-bomber at the time.
Later, the terrorist’s homemade bomb set fire to the vehicle. Experts believe it did not properly explode.
Stephanie Stitt (20-year old) is Mr Spencer’s girlfriend. She was sitting in her car just metres away when the bomb which police suspect was planted by Al Swealmeen was set off.
According to Mr Spencer (21 years old), the BBC reported that “Explosions just went off” and the building was shaken.
“Then, as I got closer to it, I smelled the smoke and could see the man at the back.
“I tried to grab him, but he was quickly engulfed by flames.” He was too far away for me to grab him.
Ms. Stitt is a student mental-health nurse and added, “I was like,” “Is there baby in the back?” We found that there was actually a passenger. Everyone was shouting 999!
The thought of what might have happened is frightening. It’s not easy to deal with [thinking]”Is it ever possible for that to occur again?
“Am I going to be able to move on from this?” It’s something I have said to my family and to myself that I won’t let this affect me.
“It won’t hold me down at all…I feel extremely lucky to be alive.”
Darren Knowles, a security guard, rushed to David Perry’s aid after he ran from the taxi. He said that Perry was screaming “Someone has blown him up.” “I want my wife.”
Security guard Darren Knowles (right) was on duty at the maternity hospital when the bomber struck. David Perry is a taxi driver.
View from the air of the wreckage of the ambulance and of the Liverpool Women’s Hospital explosion.
He described hearing the ‘loud boom’ of an explosion and believed that it was caused by a mechanical problem. Mr Perry then saw him rush to the taxi.
According to the Daily Mirror, he said that he was in panic and shouting “Someone’s blown me up.” He said, “I want my wife.”
“He tried to tell us that there were passengers, and that there are passenger.”
“I tried to tell him that he is still there, but he said, “He’s trying to blow me up.”
Mister Knowles said, “Everyone calls me a hero, but I was doing my job.”
“I felt my hands shaking as I saw how close to being shot at.” However, it’s not what you think. You just do.
Al Swealmeen (32 years old) was an Iraqi Christian convert who died in the blast. Perry, however, escaped with minor injuries.
According to officers, Al Swealmeen had lived in Liverpool for seven months and started buying’relevant items’ from that point on.
Swealmeen, 32. He was 32 years old.
After suspicious items in his asylum hostel were discovered, the Royal Logistic Corps’ Bomb Disposal Team arrived at Sutcliffe Street in Liverpool.
After a Sutcliffe Street police cordon was extended, a Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal truck arrived on Boaler Street Wednesday with a fire engine. Officers believe that Al Swealmeen lived nearby.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson reported that several suspicious packages had been found. These were checked by explosive ordinance disposal officers (EOD), before being recovered from forensic teams.
Boaler Street’s cordon was removed later, however Jackson indicated that EOD officers may be still present in the vicinity on Thursday.
Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside police told the Liverpool Echo high-visibility policing would continue in the city up until Christmas to comfort residents and tourists.
Also, searches were conducted at Rutland Avenue property.
Jackson confirmed that reports claimed the asylum seeker suffered from mental illnesses. This is currently being investigated.
Al Swealmeen was denied asylum in the UK in 2014. He arrived in the UK in 2014.