Irish police help investigate three explosive devices sent to London

IRISH POLICE were last night helping counter-terror officers investigating 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, Irish police said they were assisting police in London. All the packages were A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags and appeared capable of igniting a small fire when opened, the Metropolitan Police said.

A reporter tweeted a picture which he said showed the package sent to Heathrow airport with Irish stamps on. One of the images showed a burned package with Dublin written in black ink in the bottom right-hand corner of the envelope, which had apparently caught fire.

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, near Heathrow Airport boundary, at 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 the scene to make the device safe.

Police said the building remained closed as enquiries continue. Flights and passengers were not affected by the incident.

The second incident involved a suspicious package in the post room at Waterloo station at 11.40am.

It was made safe by specialist officers. The third incident involved a package at Aviation House at London City Airport shortly after midday. The device was made safe.