British Counter-terror police have named the man they believe to have died in the blast at Liverpool hospital as Emad al Swealmeen. He was 32.
Detective chief inspector Andrew Meeks said: “Our inquiries are very much ongoing but at this stage, we strongly believe that the deceased is 32-year-old Emad al Swealmeen.
“Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses where searches are still ongoing.
“We believe he lived at the Sutcliffe Street address for some time and had recently rented the Rutland Avenue address.
“Our focus is the Rutland Avenue address where we have continued to recover significant items.
“We continue to appeal for any information about this incident and now that we have released his name any information that the public may have about Al Swealmeen no matter how small may be of great assistance to us.’’
Anyone who has any information should call on 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Women’s hospital incident. Details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Daily Mail said the bomber was a Syrian asylum seeker who recently converted to Christianity.
He arrived in the UK from Iraq several years ago and converted from Islam to Christianity in 2017 at the cathedral it is believed he wanted to attack yesterday.
Friends said Almeni was born Emad Jamil Al-Swealmeen to a Syrian father and an Iraqi mother, and is believed to have spent a large part of his life in Iraq.
He was arrested for possession of a ‘large knife’ after the rejection of his asylum claim in 2014.
This resulted in him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and hospitalised for several months.
Almeni converted to Christianity in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral four years ago, which it is thought he had wanted to attack on Remembrance Sunday as 1,200 military personnel, veterans and families of the fallen gathered to observe the 11am minute’s silence.
It is believed he initially asked the cab driver, Mr David Perry to drive him to the cathedral, but that traffic and road closures stopped him from getting there.
It is thought he died after being locked in the cab by the taxi driver as it exploded into a fireball outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.