Liverpool bomber planning attack since April

Counter Terrorism Policing have said that it is likely that Liverpool bomber Emad Al Swealmeen began making purchases for his attack in April.

The head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West has said that the asylum seeker, who was born in Iraq, had rented a property in the city seven months ago and had started making ‘relevant purchases’ for his homemade bomb ‘at least’ since that time.

Russ Jackson provided an update on the ongoing investigation, whilst also detailing how the 32-year-old had suffered from periods of mental illness that would ‘form part of the investigation and will take some time to fully understand’.

Jackson added: “There is much comment in the media about al-Swealmeen and it is clear that he was known to many people. We continue to appeal for people who knew him, especially those who associated with him this year as we try and piece together the events leading up to this incident and the reasons for it.

“At this time we are not finding any link to others in the Merseyside area of concern but this remains a fast-moving investigation and as more becomes known we cannot rule out action against others.”