The Mayor of Liverpool has praised a “heroic” cabbie for his efforts to reduce the impact of the car explosion in the city.

A hero taxi driver reportedly risked his own live to lock a suspected terrorist in his car following the explosion of a taxi at a hospital in Liverpool which killed the passenger and injured the driver on Remembrance Sunday.

The blast involved a taxi at Liverpool Women’s Hospital at 10.59am, around a mile away from Liverpool Cathedral where a large Remembrance service was taking place.

Three men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after being detained in the nearby Kensington area of the city.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Joanne Anderson said: “The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital.

“Our thanks go to him and our emergency services, and authorities have worked through the night to divert anything further and we’ve all been on standby and in constant contact to provide any support that’s needed.”

She added: “Well, we knew that the taxi driver had stood out and locked the doors, we knew that early on.”

Hero Liverpool taxi driver named

It has been reported that the quick-thinking taxi driver is named David Perry who put his own life at risk to save others.

In the immediate aftermath Mr Paerry was branded a “Liverpool hero” which is believed to have left him with shrapnel injuries.

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden, when asked about the driver’s reported actions, told Sky News: “Isn’t that the case, the contrast between the cowardice of terrorism attack and the bravery of ordinary Britons up and down the country who put other people’s lives before their own.

“Clearly we’ll have to see exactly what happened but if that is the case it is another example of true bravery and courage.”

Piers Morgan branded Mr Perry an "absolute hero".

He tweeted: "This is Liverpool taxi driver David Perry who locked a Remembrance Sunday terrorist in his cab seconds before the bomber detonated an explosive device right outside a maternity hospital.

"David’s actions almost certainly saved many lives. He is an absolute hero."

Boris Johnson sends message to Liverpool

Speaking at a medical centre in east London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the efforts of the taxi driver involved in the Liverpool explosion.

The Prime Minister said: “This is an ongoing investigation so I can’t comment on the details or exactly what type of incident it was, what type of crime it may have been.

“But it does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.

“But I’ve got to say this is something that is an ongoing investigation. I think it would be premature to say much more than that.”

Liverpool Women’s Hospital said visiting access had been restricted “until further notice”.

Patients were diverted to other hospitals where possible during most of Sunday.