Counter-terror officers find small IEDs in London

LONDON: British counter-terrorism officers are investigating three “small improvised explosive devices” believed capable of starting small fires that were found in separate locations in London.

The suspicious packages containing padded envelopes were found at an office block next to Heathrow Airport, the post room at Waterloo station and at offices near London City Airport in the east of the capital, according to Scotland Yard.

“The packages – all A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags – have been assessed by specialists to be small improvised explosive devices,” London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Irish police later said they were “assisting the Metropolitan police with their enquiries”, as Sky News reported that the packages had Irish stamps on them.

The item sent to the Compass Centre, close to Heathrow’s north runway, was opened by staff resulting in “part of the package burning”, although there were no injuries and flights were not affected, according to police.

“These devices appear capable of igniting an initially small fire when opened,” it added, noting they were treating the incidents as “a linked series”.

Officers were called to the Compass Centre at 9.55am local time, and two hours later the alarm was raised at Waterloo Station in central London.