Liverpool bombing: Women’s Hospital bomber Emad Al Swealmeen died from device he manufactured, coroner rules

The Liverpool Women’s Hospital bomber died from the explosion and fire caused by the improvised device he manufactured himself, a coroner has ruled.

Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen died in a taxi in front of the hospital on 14 November 2021 from the explosive device he created with “murderous intent”.

Mr Al Swealmeen made the bomb at a flat he rented in the city in Rutalnd Avenue and it went off while he was inside inside the taxi.

David Perry, the driver of the taxi, survived the explosion which was captured on hospital CCTV.

The bombing happened just before 11am on Remeberance Sunday, close to Liverpool Cathedral where hundreds of people had gathered for a church service.

Senior coroner Andre Rebello concluded a brief inquest into Mr Al Swealmeen’s death at Liverpool and Wirral Coroner’s Court on Thursday (30 December).

Mr Rebello 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.

“It is found he manufactured the improvised explosive device, designed to project shrapnel, with murderous intent.

“It remains unclear as to whether he intended the device to detonate when it did.”

The inquest heard that Mr Al Swealmeen called his brother, who lives in America, 48 hours before he died and suggested that he might do “something bad”.

Mr Rebello told the court: “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.”

Mr Al Swealmeen had been in prison in the Middle East for a serious assault on another person, and had also previously been in trouble in Liverpool for possession of an offensive weapon.

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