THE LIVERPOOL hospital bomber has been named as Emad Al Swealmeen who "converted to Christianity" and changed his name to "seem more Western."

       Known by the name Enzo Almeni, the 32-year-old died after the taxi exploded in a fireball just seconds after pulling up outside of Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday morning.

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       Jordanian-born Emad Al Swealmeen has been named as the Liverpool taxi bomber 8

       32-year-old Emad also went by the name Enzo Almeni Credit: Facebook 8

       The deceased man has been named by cops following the attack 8

       Footage shows the moment the car exploded

       Police said that they "strongly believe" that the man who died in the car bomb terror attack was Emad Al Swealmeen.

       The motor racing enthusiast is said to have changed his first name to Enzo after Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari.

       It's claimed he made the name change to sound less Muslim and appear more Western, in the hope that it would help his asylum application.

       The Jordanian-born 32-year-old has connections to both Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street - where cops are continuing to search for clues in the terror probe.

       Enzo Almeni took a taxi to the hospital in Liverpool on Sunday with a handmade bomb - before the explosive detonated in the vehicle.

       Police added that they have recovered "significant items" from the home on Rutland Avenue that Almeni rented.

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       Almeni is said to have been an asylum seeker who converted to Christianity and was once arrested for carrying a knife.

       It's understood he arrived in the UK several years ago, and has mostly lived in Liverpool.

       He was being supported by Christian volunteers from a network of churches who help asylum seekers, according to reports.

       And after being arrested for carrying a knife, it's understood he was sectioned in around 2014.

       Tonight, Home Secretary Priti Patel cancelled a planned trip to Paris to discuss the migrant crisis so she can be briefed on the Liverpool attack.

       The 32-year-old was born to an Iraqi mother - and grew up in Dubai before moving to the UK, it's claimed.

       A Christian couple, Malcolm and Elizabeth Hitchott, took in Almeni in 2017.

       Elizabeth told The Sun: “He loved motor racing and went go-karting a lot. He loved it.

       "That’s why he names himself after Enzo Ferrari.”

       Mr Hitchott revealed that Almeni was refused asylum once before, saying: "He was refused asylum in 2014 by the UK.

       "He had his case decided, rejected, because he has been sectioned because of some mental health incident.

       "He was sectioned because there used to be a series of overpasses and he was waving a knife at people and threatening to jump off.”

       Almeni allegedly converted to Christianity in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral in March 2017 - which was the place he asked cabbie David Perry to initially drive him to.

       It's believed this was his initial target in the terror attack.

       'CHRISTIAN CONVERT'

       But traffic and road closures meant that Almeni could not get to the cathedral - where members of the community and military personnel were gathered on Remembrance Sunday.

       Detectives in the terror investigation are still probing whether this was an Islamist-inspired attack - and whether Almeni was a lone wolf or worked as part of a cell.

       The senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks said tonight: "Our enquiries are very much ongoing but at this stage we strongly believe that the deceased is 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen.

       "Al Swealmeen is connected to both the Rutland Avenue and Sutcliffe Street addresses where searches are still ongoing.

       "We believe he lived at the Sutcliffe Street address for some time and had recently rented the Rutland Avenue address.

       "Our focus is the Rutland Avenue address where we have continued to recover significant items.

       "We continue to appeal for any information about this incident and now that we have released his name any information that the public may have about Al Swealmeen no matter how small may be of great assistance to us."

       The terrorist, who took a taxi to a hospital carrying a homemade bomb was "from the Middle East and was unknown to MI5".

       What we know so far...

       Police named the man killed in the taxi bomb as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen He also went by the name Enzo Almeni The terrorist was killed and taxi driver injured in a car bomb blast at Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday Hero cabbie Dave Perry locked the passenger in the taxi to prevent further disaster The horror is being treated as a terrorist incident but the motive is unclear Four people have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences The bomb was homemade and manufactured 'by the passenger in the taxi' Boris Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting today as the terror threat is raised to the second highest level of 'severe'

       Armed police swooped on Liverpool Women's Hospital just before 11am on Sunday after the blast in a car park.

       Police confirmed today the horror is being treated as a terror incident.

       But he was not on any MI5 watchlist and is believed to be from the Middle East, The Telegraph reports.

       Three suspects - aged 29, 26 & 21 - were arrested on Sunday under the Terrorism Act.

       It was confirmed a fourth man, 20, was held today by officers with all four suspects to be quizzed by counter-terrorism officers this afternoon.

       Earlier this evening, police carried out a "controlled explosion" in a field near a "bomb factory" house linked to the taxi bomber.

       BOMBER NAMED

       A "controlled explosion" was carried out in Sefton Park as inquiries continued into the bomb blast at Liverpool Women's Hospital.

       Multiple witnesses reported seeing the operation unfold this evening as cops continue to work inside the cordoned-off area.

       A woman living near the Greenbank area said she heard a "loud bang" just after 4pm this afternoon.

       Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, Counter Terrorism North West, said the bomber was picked up in Rutland Avenue just before 11am.

       He then asked to be taken to Liverpool Women's Hospital, which is around ten minutes away.

       As the taxi approached the hospital, the explosion tore through the car and engulfed it in a fireball - killing him and injuring cabbie Dave Perry.

       ACC Jackson told a press conference he has spoken with Dave, who described the drive to hospital as "unremarkable".

       Officers are still trying to establish a motive for the terror blast and said the investigation is "continuing at pace".

       ACC Jackson said they “cannot at this time draw any connection” with Remembrance Sunday events nearby but confirmed it is a line of inquiry.

       The officer added: "Remarkably, the taxi driver, escaped from the cab. He has been treated for the injuries he sustained and has now been released from hospital.

       ACT OF TERROR

       "Emergency services quickly attended the scene and Merseyside Fire and Rescue put out the fire following which it quickly became apparent that the passenger remained in the vehicle and was deceased.

       "It is not clear what the motivation for this incident is.

       "Our enquiries indicate that an improvised explosive device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi.

       "The reason why he then took it to the Women's Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for its sudden explosion.

       "Although, the motivation for this incident is yet to be understood, given all the circumstances, it has been declared a terrorist incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are continuing with the investigation."

       The officer confirmed two addresses in the city have been searched as a result of the investigation.

       Three of the suspects were arrested on Sunday at Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool, while today's arrest was made in the same area.

       Cops have found "significant items" at a home searched in Rutland Avenue with eight families living nearby evacuated.

       ACC Jackson said he believes the arrested men are "associates" of the taxi passenger.

       They are now looking at telephone records and purchases made by the terrorist, who has been linked to both addresses being searched.

       Sharon Cullen was evacuated with her family last night as armed cops swooped on her street.

       She said: "The police pounded on my door and an officer said 'we need to get you out of the house as soon as possible'.

       "They said 'whatever is going on at the back of the house, it could blow the block'.

       "It was really frightening."

       BOMB BLAST

       Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said there is no "specific threat" to the area but patrols will be ramped up.

       She also urged people to "remain calm" but "vigilant and alert".

       Dramatic pictures showed the car on fire just inches from the main entrance to the hospital, where 30 babies are born each day.

       Shocking footage also revealed the moment the taxi exploded in a fireball just seconds after pulling up outside the hospital.

       Hero cabbie Dave was injured after he leapt from the burning taxi and locked the suspect in the back.

       His brave actions meant the male passenger carrying the bomb was the only person killed.

       Dad-of-two Dave has been released from hospital and is now recovering at home.

       TERROR PROBE

       Boris Johnson today praised the cabbie, saying he acted with “incredible presence of mind and bravery”.

       The PM chaired an emergency Cobra meeting following the blast as Britain's terror threat was raised to "severe".

       He said “the British people will never be cowed by terrorism”, adding: “We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence.”

       Staff were forced to evacuate some patients after the blast and transfer them to other hospitals as the Army bomb squad sealed off the area.

       Liverpool Women’s Hospital announced visiting access is restricted "until further notice" and patients will be sent to other medical facilities "where possible".

       A spokesperson said staff will be reviewing "patient activity for the next 24 to 48 hours" and assured support is available for anyone impacted by the incident.

       Liverpool Women’s Hospital featured on hit Channel 4 series One Born Every Minute and sees 500,000 patients a year.

       The hospital — where Coleen Rooney gave birth to her four sons — has around 1,350 staff who work there.

       Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 1027 quoting Liverpool Womens Hospital incident.

       Liverpool Women's Hospital explosion: Moment fourth terror suspect is arrested after strolling up to house under guard

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       Two burnt-out cars could be seen in the car park of Liverpool Women's Hospital 8

       The men have been held under the Terrorism Act after the blast 8

       Armed police swooped on two streets in the city as they made three arrests

       More to follow...

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