Explosive devices found in two London airports and Waterloo station prompt counter terror probe

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Explosive devices found in two London airports and Waterloo station prompt counter terror probe

9:46 CAT | 06 Mar 2019

British counter-terrorism police launched an investigation on Tuesday after three suspicious packages were received in buildings at London’s Heathrow and City airports and Waterloo mainline railway station in the city centre.

“The packages — all A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags — have been assessed by specialist officers to be small improvised explosive devices,” police said in a statement.

“The Met Police Counter Terrorism Command is treating the incidents as a linked series and is keeping an open mind regarding motives,” it added.

Ireland’s police service said it was helping British colleagues investigate who mailed the three small bombs. It follows reports that the packages were posted from the Irish Republic. Sky News published photos said to be of the parcels showing what appeared to be Irish stamps.

Police were first called to investigate a suspicious package at The Compass Centre, a building on the grounds of Heathrow airport, shortly before 10:00 local time (09:00 CET). The package was opened by staff, causing the device to initiate and resulting in part of it burning.

No-one was injured but the building was evacuated as a precaution. It remains closed but flights have not been affected.

Other reports of suspicious packages followed. First at the post room of Waterloo Station, in central London, at 11:40, and at the offices of London City airport, in east London, at 12:10. Neither packages had been opened and specialist officers have made the devices safe, police said.

In a statement posted on Twitter, London City Airport said that the office building, which had been evacuated, has since “reopened and staff have returned safely.” No flight was impacted.

We can confirm that City Aviation House has re-opened and staff have returned safely, following the evacuation of approximately 100 staff at 12.15pm, due to the discovery of a small improvised explosive device. 1/2

— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) March 5, 2019

Trains also continued to run as normal from Waterloo station, which was not evacuated. A small cordon put outside the station has since been removed, it posted on Twitter.

UPDATE: following a police investigation, the cordon has been removed and the station is operating normally.

— London Waterloo (@LondonWaterloo) March 5, 2019