Hunt on for assailant who detonated London bomb

29 commuters hurt in subway car attack

LONDON — Police in London were searching for the assailant who detonated a homemade bomb Friday that sent a scorching blast of flame and smoke through a London subway car, injuring at least 29 rush-hour commuters and sending panicked crowds scrambling for safety in what police called a terrorist incident.

As of Friday evening, authorities had given no details on possible suspects. Security measures were tightened across London’s vast mass-transit network and the government described the threat level as critical, meaning another attack could be imminent.

British media reported that the crude device, carried in a bucket and shoved into a shopping bag, had a timer, suggesting that some degree of bomb-making knowledge was employed.

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the explosion on its Amaq news website. Experts cautioned that the group often seeks credit for attacks it may have inspired, as well as ones it had nothing to do with.

The explosion on London’s Tube is bound to rekindle pointed debate about whether countries such as Britain have been tough enough fighting terrorism. Just hours after the blast, President Trump suggested the United Kingdom needed to be “more proactive.” Shortly after, Prime Minister Theresa May retorted that such criticism was not helpful.

“This was a device intended to cause significant harm,” May said, but it remained unclear whether the explosive may have detonated prematurely or malfunctioned at the Parsons Green station, about three miles southwest of central London.

It was not certain whether the suspected bomber was among those hurt or was now the run. In a sign that a manhunt could be mobilized, London police appealed to the public to submit cellphone images taken at the scene. British media said that investigators had closed-circuit television images of a suspect. The homemade device blew up on the inbound train, nine stops from Westminster.

After the attack, Trump tweeted: “Another attack in London by a loser terrorist. These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!”

It was unclear whether Trump had been briefed by his security advisers and knew something of the identity of the assailants.

SOURCE: SKY In this image from video, a woman wrapped in blankets is escorted by emergency services near the scene of an explosion in London at the height of the city’s Friday morning rush hour.