Taxi Explosion Near UK Hospital Investigated As Terrorist Attack

A taxi explosion Sunday outside of a women’s hospital in Liverpool, England, is being treated as an act of terrorism, authorities announced.

A passenger riding in a taxi allegedly detonated an improvised explosive device outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Sunday, killing himself in the process and injuring the taxi driver, The Times reported. Three men believed to be associates of the passenger were arrested under the country’s Terrorism Act, according to the Merseyside Police.

“Three males have today been arrested in the Kensington area under the Terrorism Act and remain in custody and enquiries remain ongoing,” Chief Constable Serena Kennedy announced in a press release. “Merseyside Police will continue to liaise with community groups, community leaders, partner agencies and individuals in the coming days and weeks to make sure any concerns are addressed and ensuring that we provide the best possible service to local people.”

Joanne Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said the taxi driver was aware an attack was about to take place and diverted his vehicle away from the women’s hospital, which was the presumed target of the terrorist.

“The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital,” Anderson told BBC Radio 4 on Monday. “Our thanks go to him.”

Neither the driver nor the passenger have been identified, and the terrorist’s goal is not yet clear.

“Although the motivation for this incident is yet to be understood, given all the circumstances, it has been declared a terrorist incident,” Russ Jackson, head of Counterterrorism Policing in the region, told reporters Monday, according to the Associated Press.

The Merseyside Police did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.