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British investigators near the site of the explosion in Liverpool
Photo: PHIL NOBLE / REUTERS
In the explosion of a car in Liverpool on Sunday morning, the police assume a terrorist background, as a spokesman said.
Accordingly, there is evidence that the person who was killed in the detonation carried an explosive device.
According to the police, the passenger had a taxi take him to a women's clinic in the city.
When the target was reached, the explosive device exploded and set the car on fire.
The driver was able to save himself and was treated with injuries, the police spokesman continued.
He has already been released from the hospital.
The passenger died on the spot.
Four people arrested
It is assumed that the passenger made the improvised explosive device himself, said the spokesman.
It is still unclear why he brought it to the clinic and why the bomb exploded so suddenly.
The speaker did not want to comment on a possible motive either.
Several homes were searched in connection with the incident.
In addition to the three arrests on Sunday, another was added, said the police spokesman.
The suspects are men between the ages of 20 and 29.
Even on Monday, streets were still partially blocked off at the crime scene, as reported by the British media.
Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson praised the taxi driver for "his heroic efforts" in an interview with the BBC.
He had managed to avert what could have "led to an absolute catastrophe at the hospital."
She did not want to comment on details, but it was known early on that the driver had left the taxi and locked the doors, Anderson continued.
Was a memorial service the aim of the attack?
The media identified an event to commemorate those who fell on Remembrance Sunday as a possible target of a foiled attack.
Thousands of people were gathered in the nearby cathedral at the time of the explosion, reports said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his condolences to those affected by the "terrible incident".
"I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick response and their professionalism and the police for their ongoing investigation," wrote Johnson on Twitter.
The investigation was led by the anti-terrorist unit.
The domestic intelligence agency MI5 was also reportedly engaged.
muk / lau / dpa / AFP