Liverpool Women’s Hospital bomber died from the explosion and fire caused by the device he made with ‘murderous intent’, coroner rules
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital bomber died from the explosion and fire
- Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, detonated a homemade bomb outside the hospital
- Police said the bomb used was a homemade explosive with ball bearings
The Liverpool Women’s Hospital bomber died from the explosion and fire caused by the improvised device he manufactured with ‘murderous intent’, a coroner has ruled.
Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, was killed when the bomb he made at flat he rented in the city went off with him inside the taxi.
The driver, David Perry, survived the blast, captured on hospital CCTV.
The bombing came shortly before 11am on Remembrance Sunday, not far from a nearby church service attended by hundreds of people at Liverpool Cathedral.
Senior coroner Andre Rebello concluded a brief inquest into the death of Al Swealmeen at Liverpool and Wirral Coroner’s Court on Thursday.
Recording his conclusion the coroner said: ‘On November 14 2021 Emad Jamil Salman Al Swealmeen died in a taxi in front of Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
‘He died from an explosion and subsequent fire caused by an improvised explosive device which he had carried into the taxi.
Emad Al Swealmeen (pictured), 32, started building a bomb factory at a rented bedsit as early as April, according to police
Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, detonated a homemade bomb outside the hospital just before 11am on November 14, killing himself and injuring taxi driver David Perry
‘It is found he manufactured the improvised explosive device, designed to project shrapnel, with murderous intent.’
He added: ‘It remains unclear as to whether he intended the device to detonate when it did.’
The inquest heard Emad Al Swealmeen rang his brother two days before he died and suggested he might do ‘something bad’.
Senior coroner Andre Rebello said Al Swealmeen’s brother, who lives in America, said he had spoken to him on Friday, November 12, two days before the bomb went off.
Mr Rebello told the inquest: ‘He says towards the end of call Emad said something like ‘if I do something bad that will affect the family what do you think?’
‘He replied something like ‘don’t do s**t’, advising him as an older brother, although this was something which caused him concern, knowing his previous issues.’
In an aerial view, the scene of the car explosion at Liverpool Women’s Hospital is seen on November 17, 2021
He said Al Swealmeen, born in Baghdad, Iraq, had been in prison in the Middle East for a serious assault on another person, as well as being in trouble in Liverpool previously for possession of an offensive weapon.
The inquest heard Emad Al Swealmeen came to the country legally in May 2014 with a Jordanian passport and UK visa.
Senior coroner Andre Rebello said: ‘Shortly after his arrival he claimed, it is believed falsely, that he was of Syrian heritage and claimed asylum as a refugee from that country.’
He said that claim and all subsequent claims for asylum were refused, with the latest refusal in November 2020.
Mr Rebello said there had been reports Al Swealmeen had rejected Islam and converted to Christianity.
He asked Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks, the senior investigating officer in the case, if this could be to strengthen his asylum claim.
Mr Meeks said: ‘I’d agree with that because he would claim he’d be liable to persecution on return to Syria or Iraq.’
Mr Rebello added: ‘When premises were searched both a Holy Koran and prayer mat were present and it was fairly evident that he carried out the religious duties of someone who is a follower of Islam, not withstanding the reported conversion to Christianity.’
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