Suicide verdict on van blast man

Mr Langrell had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic

A coroner has recorded a verdict of suicide in the case of a man who tried to lure five policemen to their deaths as he blew up his van in Liverpool.

Terry Langrell's van burst into flames after being stopped by police.

The 42-year-old from Wirral died of burns and the five police officers were injured on 1 August last year.

Mr Langrell carried out the attack in Toxteth, on the eighth anniversary of being placed on the sex offenders' register, the inquest heard.

The driving instructor, from Leasowe in Wirral, had been missing from home for five months before the attack.

He was spotted driving erratically by officers on Smithdown Road and was followed.

After several attempts to pull him over other police cars joined the pursuit.

I will kill some good and some bad Extract from a note by Terry Langrell

The van came to a halt on Park Place in Toxteth and Mr Langrell blew up the vehicle which was filled with gas cylinders.

Pc Andrew Astle was opening the door at that moment and suffered extensive burns.

Mr Langrell then ran from the van engulfed in bright blue flames caused by chemicals in the cylinders.

Other officers escaped with lesser injuries as they tried to put out the flames.

But Mr Langrell resisted help, screaming: "I should have been dead," the court was told.

The police officers tried to restrain him and make him roll on the ground while one of the constables wrapped his arms around him to douse the flames.

Mr Langrell was pronounced dead on arrival at Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Offender's grudge

Police later found several notes containing messages, "to kill as many police as I can" and another saying "I will kill some good and some bad".

The coroner's court heard that Mr Langrell, a paranoid schizophrenic, had a grudge against the authorities, because of his conviction.

He had been found guilty of offences involving a 14-year-old boy and was placed on the sex offenders' register in August 1999.

He had also been seeking medical help for suicidal tendencies.

Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello praised the bravery and courage of the officers involved.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin Matthews said: "A number of officers acted selflessly putting their own lives at risk in repeated attempts to get Mr Langrell away from the van.

"The bravery and courage shown by the officers was exemplary."