Report suspicious new neighbours, urge counter terror police

COUNTER terror police have urged people to keep an eye on new residents who move into their area in the run-up to Christmas.

The public need to be alert and on the lookout to help in the fight against terrorism, according to Dept Asst Commissioner Matt Twist. He urged people to act on their suspicions and contact police rather than put concerns to the back of their minds.

His comments come as detectives in Liverpool continue to investigate the suspected suicide bomb that was detonated last week outside the city’s women’s hospital. Emad al-swealmeen, the Iraqi-born suspect, spent eight months purchasing bomb-making ingredients and assembling his device at a rented property in Liverpool.

Merseyside Police will keep a mobile station at the hospital to reassure the public after officers finished their examination of the scene on Sunday. Swealmeen’s

old address at Sutcliffe Street, Kensington, has also been closed.

Mr Twist told LBC Radio: “This is all around being alert, not alarmed. This is the first proper Christmas we have had in a couple of years. There are going to be lots of places that are busy. There are going to be lots of venues getting back on their feet...lots of gatherings.”

He urged people to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

“What we are looking out for is for the public to be alert to things that look unusual,” he said. “Why are people living on your street, that you haven’t seen before, buying large quantities of chemicals, or any chemicals that appear suspicious? Why would people be doing that? If this happens over a protracted period of time, instead of putting it to the back of your mind, what we’re saying is please report it.”

Mr Twist also asked the public to be conscious of friends and family who started to behave differently.

“We want people to be vigilant, looking out for what’s unusual,” he said.