British public warned over letter bomb campaign

Police chiefs issued a public warning about a letter bomb campaign to workers across the country today after it emerged that seven explosive devices have been posted in the last three weeks.

The latest blast at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) this morning prompted Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary John Reid to publicly express their concern over the bombings.

A total of eight people have been injured in the attacks and council leaders warned today that someone could be seriously injured or killed if the bomber is not caught soon.

An investigation into possible links between the seven letter bombings is now being led by the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism (NCDE) Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell.

Each of the packages contained “viable explosive devices”, according to police.

“The packages received so far have caused minor injuries, but could have been more serious,” Mr Setchell said.

“I am appealing today for companies, organisations and individuals to take extra care when handling mail.

“If they have any suspicions about any letter or package, they should leave it unopened and call the police immediately.”

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, warned that a continuation of the campaign could result in someone losing their life.

Chief executive Paul Coen said: “Many council workers are on the front line of this important work and deal on a day-to-day basis with either parcels or people.

“It is vital at this time that people employed in councils work together and remain alert to help protect themselves and their colleagues from these vicious acts of vigilantism.

“We can only hope that the perpetrator of these bombings is caught by the police before someone is seriously injured or killed.”

The first three of the seven letter bombs were sent to companies in Oxfordshire and the West Midlands area last month. They are being linked by Thames Valley Police.

In each case, the companies received an A5 padded bag containing a crude firework-type explosive device.

Each had a similar return address, while Barry Horne, an animal rights extremist who died in 2001 while serving an 18-year jail sentence for a firebombing campaign, was named on the back of one envelope.

On Saturday, a letter bomb exploded at a house in Folkestone, Kent, injuring the 53-year-old man who opened it.

He is believed to be a security company manager responsible for providing door staff and security services to businesses.

This week has seen three letter bomb attacks in consecutive days on motoring-related companies in London, Berkshire and South Wales.

The latest blast happened at the DVLA’s main centre in Swansea this morning and left three women in hospital.

It raised fears that an enraged motorist is waging a campaign against traffic enforcement organisations.

Yesterday, a letter bomb exploded at an accountancy firm linked to Speed Check Services, a provider of digital speed cameras to the police.

That came after a letter bomb attack the day before at the central London offices of Capita, which runs London’s congestion charge system.

At Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Blair expressed sympathy to all those caught up in the “traumatic” attacks and said they were being investigated “very closely”.

Mr Reid said the bombings were clearly “a cause for concern”.

“Naturally, these incidents are worrying,” he said. “The police are on top of this. They are keeping me informed here.”

Fears that a disgruntled motorist is behind the most recent attacks were apparently confirmed by this morning’s explosion at the DVLA – the agency which maintains registers of drivers and vehicles, and collects car tax.

All incoming mail to the DVLA has been stopped in the wake of the blast.

Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias, divisional commander of Swansea police, said the ground floor postroom where the explosion happened was being treated as a crime scene.

He said one woman suffered burn injuries to her hands in the explosion, while two others had hearing-related injuries caused by the noise of the blast. They are being treated at Morriston Hospital.

“We are looking to see if any letters have gone from the mail room to the rest of the building,” he said.

“We have done this in conjunction with the management to ensure the safety of their staff, and if necessary, will retrieve any packages.”

A Royal Logistic Corps bomb disposal team is at the scene.

Employees said they had heard it was a small firework device in a Jiffy bag.

“The woman who was injured had bandages around her eyes and lacerations to her chest,” one said.

“We are absolutely petrified here. Everyone is really frightened.”

A spokeswoman for Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, said four workers from the DVLA had been treated there today.

She said: “A woman is continuing to receive treatment for injuries, which include cuts to her hands and body.

“Her condition continues to be stable, and her injuries are not life-threatening.”

The woman, who has asked for her personal details not to be disclosed, gave this statement: “I was shaken, shocked and frightened.

“It’s hard to describe how I felt. Everybody started running around me and I felt quite calm, but I didn’t really know what had happened.”

Three of her colleagues, two men and a woman, have been assessed for potential hearing problems following the incident.

Following examination by a consultant, they were discharged.

Janet Williams, Swansea NHS Trust acting director of operations, said: “We are a receiving hospital for major incidents. We have pre-planned and well-rehearsed procedures for dealing with major events.

“We are working closely with our colleagues in the ambulance service and police.”

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: “This cowardly attack is deeply, deeply shocking. I send my sympathies and best wishes to the victims for a full and speedy recovery. The police are investigating and the culprits will be brought to justice.”

The trade union representing workers at the DVLA called for an urgent security review following the explosion.

Jeff Evans, of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: “Staff are being told to stay calm, but priority has to be given to their safety now.

“We now want a proper risk assessment on the position at DVLA offices across the country. An urgent security review is now required and other Government departments need to be vigilant.”

The first of this week’s letter bombs exploded at the offices of business outsourcing company Capita in Victoria Street, central London.

The bomb, stuffed into a padded bag, exploded in the hands of a worker in the postroom, leaving her with blast wounds to her hands and stomach.

She was taken to hospital and is said to be making a good recovery.

Scotland Yard’s counter terrorism unit is investigating Monday’s blast.

Then yesterday, a letter bomb exploded at the offices of accountancy firm Vantis on an industrial estate in Wokingham, Berkshire.

The package was not addressed to the company.

It later emerged that one of its clients is Speed Check Services, based in Camberley, Surrey, which is the sole provider of digital speed enforcement technology to police and highways authorities.

That explosion left two men with blast injuries to their hands and upper bodies, but they did not need hospital treatment.

Motoring groups moved swiftly to distance themselves from the bombing campaign.

Nigel Humphries, from the Association of British Drivers, said he was appalled by the attacks.

“I can’t believe anyone would be so stupid. We’re law-abiding people, we do not condone this at all,” he said.