Police search for subway bomber
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 the crude device, carried in a bucket and shoved in a shopping bag, had a timer, suggesting some degree of bombmaking knowledge was employed.
The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the explosion on its Amaq news website. Experts cautioned the group often seeks credit for attacks it may have inspired, as well as ones it had nothing to do with. “This was a device intended to cause significant harm,” Prime Minister Theresa May said, but it remained unclear whether the explosive may have detonated prematurely or malfunctioned 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 investigators had closed-circuit television images of a suspect. The homemade device blew up on the inbound train, nine stops from Westminster.
Authorities said the 29 injured largely suffered from flash burns.
Emergency services said none of those hurt had life-threatening injuries.