Terrorist may have been involved in road rage row before blast

A terrorist who planted a bomb in a taxi outside BBC Television Centre may have been involved in a road rage incident shortly before the explosion.

The bomber is thought to have "cut up" another motorist shortly before he parked the red cab late on Saturday night.

London's Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry said the driver of the taxi was involved in an altercation with the other motorist and began shouting at him.

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

Mr Fry said the taxi in which the bomb was packed was bought from a dealer's yard in Edmonton, north London, just after 9am on Saturday.

Mr Fry said that the man who sold the taxi had described the buyer as being about 6ft tall, aged about 30, with a Northern Irish accent, wearing a short jacket and a baseball cap.

"A witness has come forward to say that he was cut up by someone in a red taxi," Mr Fry said about the incident in Scrubs Lane, White City.

"The two motorists started yelling at each other and a witness believes they had an altercation. "Did anyone else come across this driver of the taxi on Saturday? Did anyone notice someone who was less than friendly or civil?"

Saturday's 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. Anyone with information is urged to ring 0800 789 321.