AN explosive device has been detonated underneath a car parked outside a school in Liverpool.
Merseyside Police said the device went off outside St Edward's College in Sandfield Park, West Derby, at about 2.50pm on Friday.
Nobody was hurt in the explosion, a spokesman for the force said.
Inspector Michael O'Callaghan said: "There was an explosion under a car at the school this afternoon.
"Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage," he said.
Police described the device as a nail bomb. The school was evacuated immediately after the bomb went off, the spokesman said.
Damon Younis, 38, who lives next to the school, said the car was at the entrance to the school.
St Edward’s College in Sandfield Park, Liverpool, is a Christian Voluntary Aided school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18.
Around 1280 students currently attend the school, under the principal John Waszek.
Police tonight confirmed the silver saloon belonged to a teacher and implied the detonation was timed to coincide with the end of the school day.
Speaking near the cordoned-off entrance to the private Runnymeade infant and junior school, Superintendent Ian Pilling said the crime was “despicable”.
Map highlighting location of Liverpool, England.
A nail bomb has exploded under a car, thought to belong to a teacher, at least ten meters from the entrance of St. Edward's College in Liverpool, England at approximately 14.50 BST. There were no injuries, but the car was severely damaged in the blast.

Merseyside Police confirmed that officers were investigating a security alert at the college which is an independent Catholic boys and girls school for children ages 11-18.  They also confirmed that it was "some kind of explosive device" which was involved.

"There was an explosion under a car at the school this afternoon. What caused the explosion and the reasons behind it we are investigating. Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage," said Michael O'Callaghan, an Inspector for the Scotland Yard. Other reports say that the bomb was inside the car.

Police believe that the bomb was timed to detonate at the time children were being let out of school for the day. Almost 2,000 students attend the school, which was evacuated after the blast.