BBC bomber 'not involved in road rage'

Police say it is unlikely that an Irish terrorist responsible for the BBC Television Centre bombing was involved in a road rage incident before the explosion as originally thought.

Anti-terrorist officers yesterday quizzed a motorist who they thought might have been involved in a road rage incident with the bomber.

The motorist came forward to say he had been "cut up" by the driver of a red taxi near the scene of the explosion.

The incident, which took place in Scrubs Lane, White City, west London, was thought to have taken place minutes before the bomb was left in a red cab in nearby Wood Lane on Saturday night.

Scotland Yard said: "Following further inquiries into the altercation between a driver and a red taxi, it now appears less likely to be the taxi that was involved in the blast.

"It appears the altercation took place earlier than was initially indicated and some time before the suspect taxi was parked at Wood Lane."

The spokesman added: "We cannot rule out that, nevertheless, the altercation may still have involved the suspect taxi which could have been in the area on a trial run."

Police believe that the Real IRA was responsible for the blast and described that the attack as cowardly and potentially lethal.

"Our knowledge is that these are members of the Real IRA. What I do know is that their intent is maiming and killing," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry said.

The bomb was packed with high explosive and ripped out the front of Television Centre in Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, west London. One person was hurt. The taxi was parked at 10.40pm on Saturday and exploded at 12.30am on Sunday as explosives experts tried to deactivate it.