Three explosive devices linked, say terror police

LONDON: One package with Irish stamps ignited on opening but no one was hurt

Irish police are helping counterterror officers investigating the three small explosive devices sent to major transport hubs in London.

Police responded to reports of suspicious packages at Waterloo train station and office buildings at Heathrow and London City airports yesterday.

Security sources emphasised investigators were keeping an open mind, and added that the devices did not appear to be very sophisticated.

Following reports the packages had been sent with Irish stamps, a statement from Irish police said: “An Garda Siochana are assisting the Metropolitan Police with their inquiries.”

All the packages were A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags and appeared capable of igniting a small fire when opened, the Met said.

Sky News correspondent Alistair Bunkall tweeted a picture which he said showed the package sent to Heathrow airport.

One of the images showed a partiallyburned package addressed to Heathrow which appeared to have Dublin written in black ink in the bottom right-hand corner of the envelope, which Mr Bunkall said had caught fire.

The source of the images was not clear and their veracity has not been verified by the Press Association.

Scotland Yard said officers are treating the incidents as linked and are keeping an open mind regarding motives.

No one has been injured in the three incidents and no arrests have been made, police said.

Advice has been issued to transport hubs across London to be vigilant and report suspicious devices to police.

Officers first received a report of a suspicious package at The Compass Centre, a building near Heathrow Airport boundary, shortly before 10am.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: “The package was opened by staff at the building, causing the device to initiate.

“This resulted in part of the package burning.”

The building was evacuated as a precaution and specialist officers attended to make the device safe.

A Heathrow spokesman earlier said that flights and passengers were not affected by the incident.

British Transport Police were later called to reports of a suspicious package in the post room at Waterloo station at 11.40am.

The package was not opened and specialist officers made the device safe.

The station was not evacuated and trains continued to run as normal but cordons were in place outside on Cab Road.

Officers were also called to a report of a suspicious package at Aviation House at London City Airport shortly after midday.

The package was not opened, the building was evacuated and specialist officers made the device safe. The building has since opened.