Terror arrests after taxi explodes at Liverpool Women's Hospital, seconds before 11am Remembrance silence

Three men have been arrested as part of a terror probe after one person died and another was injured when a taxi pulled up and exploded at Liverpool Women's Hospital seconds before the 11am Remembrance Sunday silence began. 

The men, aged 29, 26 and 21, were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Kensington, Liverpool, police said.

The car passenger, a man, was declared dead at the scene and is yet to be formally identified. The driver, also a man, was injured and is being treated for injuries which police said are 'not life threatening'. 

Locals described hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke rising from the hospital grounds just before 11am. 

Liverpool Women's Hospital said it has restricted visiting access to the hospital 'with immediate effect and until further notice'. 

Where possible, patients have been diverted to another hospital, a spokesman said, and staff are currently allowing ambulances to access the hospital in emergencies. 

Staff are being permitted to leave and enter the hospital under the supervision of Merseyside Police. Some patients were evacuated from the site. 

In a statement, the hospital said: 'We are reviewing our patient activity for the next 24-48 hours and patients should wait to be contacted for updates about any planned appointments or other attendance at the hospital.

'Our staff are being permitted to leave and enter the hospital under the supervision of Merseyside Police.

'We would like to say thank you for the co-operation and support of our patients, visitors and staff who have been impacted by this incident, in particular those members of staff who were at the scene at the time of the incident.'