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Two men were arrested by counter-terrorism police after suspicious packages containing liquid were sent to Aintree Hospital - and other hospitals across the UK.

Liquid found inside an envelope was reportedly behind the evacuation of part of Aintree Hospital on Thursday.

It was sealed off as police descended on the hospital grounds following reports of a suspect package being found.

Several emergency vehicles, including an ambulance and cop cars, were seen parked up outside the Clinical Sciences Centre during the afternoon.

Today it was confirmed officers from the Met have arrested two men on suspicion of Malicious Communications Act offences after packages containing liquid were sent to a number of hospitals across the UK.

None of the packages have so far been found to contain anything hazardous.

At this stage it has not been confirmed if the arrests are connected to the incident at Aintree Hospital.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said "Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command arrested a 29-year-old man from Brent and a 37-year-old man from Harrow at approximately 6.45pm yesterday, Thursday, August 2.

"They were both arrested in Barnet and taken into custody at a north London police station. They were subsequently bailed to return to a north London police station in late August. Enquiries are ongoing."

Merseyside Police have said they are treating the incident at Aintree Hospital a hoax and refused to give out any more details.

But the ECHO understands the "suspect package" was reported as a suspicious liquid found within an envelope that had been sent to the medical centre.

The hospital and the surrounding roads have since reopened.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Aintree University Hospital said: “Access to our site is currently via the Longmoor Lane entrance only.

"We ask anyone coming to the hospital to please observe diversions that are in place and factor in extra time to their journey. Merseyside Police are managing an incident on site in a building which is not used by patients.”

"A cordon has been set up around the building as a precaution."