UK - Explosive packages found at Heathrow, Waterloo and London City Airport, March 5 2019

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dotr

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Three explosive packages found in London
Counter-terror police are investigating three packages containing explosives found at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo station.

The "small improvised explosive devices" were found in A4 postal bags, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Met's Counter Terrorism Command is treating it as a "linked series" and "keeping an open mind regarding motives".

No-one has been hurt, the force added.
 
Terror police investigate explosives near Waterloo Station, Heathrow and London City Airport
"Three A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags were found, the Met Police has now confirmed.

Specialist officers have assessed the packages, which were found to be "small improvised explosive devices".
"These devices, at this early stage of the investigation, appear capable of igniting an initially small fire when opened.

"The Met Police Counter Terrorism Command is treating the incidents as a linked series and is keeping an open mind regarding motives."

Police are still assessing the situation at Waterloo and at City airport, but say a package found at Heathrow has been "made safe".
 
dotr said:
Three explosive packages found in London
Counter-terror police are investigating three packages containing explosives found at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo station.

The "small improvised explosive devices" were found in A4 postal bags, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Met's Counter Terrorism Command is treating it as a "linked series" and "keeping an open mind regarding motives".

No-one has been hurt, the force added.
Click to expand...
Some additional details from the link above:

"Irish police are assisting the Met as the Heathrow package had Republic of Ireland stamps."

"The device set fire when staff opened the bag."

(I am assuming "staff" refers to LE staff??)

jmo
 
Info and photos about the packages - the stamps, handwriting, etc.:


"The stamps resemble a 'Love & Marriage stamp' available in Irish post offices and were issued to celebrate Saint Valentine's Day in 2018." (My note....not new stamps if that makes any difference.)

"'It is most likely to be a[n Irish] dissident orientated attack but it could be Islamic or just someone looking to enjoy the publicity."

"[Security expert Will Geddes] added: "It would appear that they have been hand written addressed envelopes, which in itself will be potential forensic treasure for the investigators to try and track and trace who might have been the originator."

Irish stamps on jiffy bag fire 'bombs' found across London
 
london-attack-map.jpg

Map shows the locations of the two airports and one rail station where the packages were found.
3 explosive devices found at London transit hubs | CBC News
"U.K. police have opened a counterterrorism investigation after three suspicious packages containing what appeared to be explosive devices were discovered at major transit hubs in London on Tuesday.

The packages were posted from the Republic of Ireland, according to a senior European government source. Ireland's police service confirmed it is helping with the investigation.

"The Met Police Counter Terrorism Command is treating the incidents as a linked series and is keeping an open mind regarding motives," London's police force said, declining to comment immediately on a possible Irish link."

"The first call came at around 10 a.m. local time with a report of a suspicious package at the Compass Centre, an office building on the grounds of Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport. The package was opened by staff at the building, "causing the device to initiate," police said. "This resulted in part of the package burning."

The second call came in at approximately 11:40 a.m. British Transport Police were called to reports of a suspicious package in the mailroom at Waterloo Station. The package was not opened.

Around noon police were called to a report of a suspicious package at offices at City Aviation House at London City Airport. That package was not opened."

"The United Kingdom is on its second-highest level of terrorism alert, with security services seeing an attack by international terrorists as "highly likely."
 
dotr said:
london-attack-map.jpg

Map shows the locations of the two airports and one rail station where the packages were found.
3 explosive devices found at London transit hubs | CBC News
"U.K. police have opened a counterterrorism investigation after three suspicious packages containing what appeared to be explosive devices were discovered at major transit hubs in London on Tuesday.

The packages were posted from the Republic of Ireland, according to a senior European government source. Ireland's police service confirmed it is helping with the investigation.

"The Met Police Counter Terrorism Command is treating the incidents as a linked series and is keeping an open mind regarding motives," London's police force said, declining to comment immediately on a possible Irish link."

"The first call came at around 10 a.m. local time with a report of a suspicious package at the Compass Centre, an office building on the grounds of Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport. The package was opened by staff at the building, "causing the device to initiate," police said. "This resulted in part of the package burning."

The second call came in at approximately 11:40 a.m. British Transport Police were called to reports of a suspicious package in the mailroom at Waterloo Station. The package was not opened.

Around noon police were called to a report of a suspicious package at offices at City Aviation House at London City Airport. That package was not opened."

"The United Kingdom is on its second-highest level of terrorism alert, with security services seeing an attack by international terrorists as "highly likely."
Click to expand...
Thanks for the map!

So...it sounds like all the packages were noticed around the same time, separately. Interesting.

jmo
 
Explosives found at airports and station


"Analysis: BBC News Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford
Working explosive devices being sent through the mail - or letter bombs - are very rare in the UK.

Fortunately these packages only appear to be designed to start a very small fire - the one that went off just melted part of its own plastic envelope, and the other two were not opened.

But there is sufficient concern about today's incidents for them to be investigated as a linked series by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command.

This means the full weight of resources and expertise of one of the world's most experienced counter terrorism teams will be trying to get to the bottom of who sent the packages and why.

The motive is unclear. It could be anything from Irish republicanism to a grievance against transport companies. Other possibilities include someone with strong opinions about Brexit or someone with mental health problems.

The devices do not seem to be capable of causing serious injury, so they were probably intended to have a nuisance effect and to generate publicity, which they have successfully done".
 
Don’t they have cameras EVERYWHERE!

Maybe not in Irelamd?
 
I hate this. Our youngest is going to London this summer and this does nothing to make me feel better about his traveling.
 
March 6 2019 rbbm.
UK explosives terror 'has none of the hallmarks of previous IRA attacks'
"Both the dissident republicans and extremist Islamists have generally always laid claim to their attacks and always wanted a result that showed them at their most powerful and frightening.

This attack has none of those factors."
This event is more subtle and was designed to primarily influence rather than kill.

The perpetrators displayed a level of awareness and coordination in terms of timing, selection of multiple locations and the point of deployment of the device, Dublin, all indicate a high level of political awareness.

Former colleagues of mine from Defence Force bomb disposal now study the intent and targeting routines of bomb makers, rather than just the device.

In this case there was also a level of strategic awareness displayed.

Whoever carried out this act got maximum attention for very little outlay or use of expertise.

The question investigators must now ask is, who has the most to gain from this act?"
 
Last edited:
'IRA' says it is responsible for parcel bombs - police

A group calling itself the IRA has claimed it was behind the parcel bombs that were sent to three London transport hubs and the University of Glasgow last week, police have said.

Officers say the group claimed five devices were sent but only four have been found so far.

'IRA' says it is responsible for parcel bombs - police
 
Police Scotland and the Metropolitan Police have said the claim was received by a Northern Ireland media outlet using a recognised codeword.

The forces said in a joint statement that it was allegedly was made "on behalf of the IRA".

Officers were already exploring this as a line of enquiry after the packages bore similarities to devices sent by Northern Ireland dissident groups in the past.

At least two of the parcel bombs had Irish stamps with red hearts on them.


More follows...


'IRA' says it is responsible for parcel bombs - police
 
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