NET CLOSES IN ON BUCKET BOMB COWARD
Tube‘terrorist’ caught on CCTV
POLICE are closing in on the Parsons Green Tube blast suspect after identifying him from CCTV.
His crude bomb in a bucket left 29 people injured including a boy aged 10... but could have killed dozens had it detonated properly.
BRITAIN was on a “critical” terror alert last night as a nationwide manhunt got under way for the bungling bomber who tried to blow up a Tube train.
Grim-faced Prime Minister Teresa May made the announcement as she warned that another cowardly attack could be “imminent” .
Islamic State earlier claimed responsibility for yesterday’s crude bomb at Parsons Green station in south west London. But terror expert Will Geddes said the terrorists may have been intending to target a more well known station like busy Paddington railway terminus.
He added: “If it was Paddington or Notting Hill – they are internationallyrecognised names. I think it was more a premature detonation.”
Fortunately, the device made with a builder’s bucket and fairy lights and hidden in a Lidl carrier bag failed to go off properly.
But it still sent a wall of fire down a Tube carriage injuring 29 people including a 10-year-old boy and Mrs May said it was intended to cause significant harm.
Police and were last night studying CCTV footage from stations the train stopped at before pulling into Parsons Green.
It is understood the device was triggered by a timer, suggesting the bomber had got off at an earlier stop.
The Metropolitan Police are thought to know the identity of the bomber but last night officers had not made any arrests or released any pictures of the suspect.
Counter-terror experts fear he could be armed and may have planted more devic before going on the run.
One officer at the scene said: “We believe there is a second bomb. There is a man with knives on the loose.”
Terrified passengers were seen covered in blood with scorched hands, legs, faces and hair.
Flames
Others suffered crush injuries in the stampede as they fled for their lives.
Witness Luke Walmsley, 33, told how he saw a woman with the skin of both her legs scorched away and a 10-year-old boy with burns.
He said: “There was a flash at the end of the carriage that came down the train. People just started sprinting. There was a really acrid burning smell.
“There were lots of injuries from people being trampled on. It was complete pandemonium, complete terror.’’
Peter Crowley heard a large bang on the opposite side of the carriage. He said: “This fireball came towards my head and singed off my hair. I have burn marks at the top of my head.
“It was a really hot intense fireball above my head.
“Everyone just ran off the train. It was quite scary. There were a lot of people in shock. Mostly it was facial injuries, burns rather than cuts.
“It was like nothing I have ever seen before – sheer panic.’’
Software developer Sylvain Pennec, who was 30ft from the bomb, said: “I heard a boom and when I looked there were flames all around.
“People started to run but we were lucky to be stopping at Parsons Green and the door started to open.’’
He described the device as looking “like a bucket of mayonnaise”.
Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said “an improvised explosive device” had been detonated.