Morning:
18°c
Johnny Depp has become, in his young middle age, like a star of the movies’ golden period
The full story of the rescue operation was told as it emerged that plastic windows fitted at the block two years ago melted in the intense heat, effectively acting as fuel for the blaze
More...
Serial bomber fear as letter explodes at speed camera office
Last updated at 16:22pm on 06.02.07
Police and paramedics rushed to the offices of Vantis after a letter exploded
Fears grew today that a motorist is conducting a letter bomb campaign after the second explosion within 24 hours at firms involved with speed cameras and the congestion charge.
Two people suffered minor injuries at 9am when an item of post exploded as it was opened by an employee at accountancy firm Vantis in Wokingham, Berks.
Read more... • Did disgruntled customer send 'letter bomb' to C-charge HQ?
The company is thought to work with firms involved in speed camera and congestion charge revenues.
The letter bomb was addressed to Paul Davey, managing director of Speed Check Services, based in Camberley, Surrey, which is one of Vantis's clients.
SCS uses the Wokingham address of Vantis PLC, its accountancy specialist, as its official registered office.
SCS operates a camera network, SPECS, that measures a motorist's average speed over long distances. Touted on the company's website as being "the ultimate deterrent", it is far more feared by drivers than the traditional flashing Gatso cameras.
A spokesman for Vantis said: "The item involved in today's explosion was opened by one of our staff but was actually addressed to one of the companies we work for."
The attack follows an explosion yesterday in the Westminster postroom of Capita, which operates the congestion charge. The devices seem to have been designed to injure but not kill victims. Police are now looking for links between the attacks.
Vantis is listed as one of the UK's top 13 accountancy firms.
Paramedics, firefighters and police were called to its offices at the Oaklands Business Centre soon after 9am.
Bomb disposal experts were also called in and a large section of the business park was sealed off. Officers are examining the bomb to see if it has a similar "signature" to yesterday's device.
Paramedics gave two injured men emergency treatment. One, in his thirties, suffered minor blast injuries to his upper body and hands opening the device.
A second victim was believed to have collapsed as he stood nearby when the explosion happened, suffering injuries as he hit the ground.
At least 14 other workers were evacuated from the building in Fishponds Road.
Campaigner Captain Gatso, director of group Motorists Against Detection, said today: "We are not responsible for these attacks and do not condone causing injury to anyone. However, there is a war against motorists and it seems this is an act of retaliation."
Police have revealed that yesterday's bomb in Victoria Street in central London was contained in a Jiffy bag padded envelope.
The woman who was handling it, said to be in her thirties, was not the intended recipient. She suffered cuts to her stomach and injuries to her hands.
Reader views (9)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Isabel
This is still inexcusable, cowardly behaviour, whichever way you put it. There are better ways to make your point than sending a letter bomb to an innocent party.
- Jg, South East, UK
James,
If this government is such an "oppresive regime" and "utter failure" then why has it won the last three elections? Nobody likes parking fines but inflammatory remarks like yours are what leads to extremists doing violent acts like this.
- Brendan, London
No form of bombing campaign is acceptable but it reflects the widespread anger and seething resentment many feel at this oppressive regime we live under. Every day we hear of new "charges" to coerce us into giving more money to the State, often based on meticulously enforced by petty bureaucrats. Parking fines for one are out of all proportion to the offence. We would all mutter if a fine was say £10 for overstaying a meter albeit for 5 minutes but when its reaches the £100 level then you know that something is very, very wrong. Public transport is the most expensive and unreliable in Europe but we are "coerced" into using it... but then told not to use it because its too crowded the lunatics have taken over the asylum. I reckon every generation has to suffer under a Labour government in order to understand why Socialism is, was, ever will be, an utter failure just as its ultimate model Soviet model failed utterly.
- James, London
Jg, for the record, I don't think anyone is condoning the actions of whoever it is that has done this, they are merely pointing out that the govt agencies should not be, and are probably not, surprised.
- Isabel, Woking, England
I'm appalled that someone could do this - and for such a relatively trivial reason as possibly being unhappy about a congestion charge. I hope they find whoever is sending these devices and charge them.
How anyone can think sending letter bombs that get opened by innocent people can be in any way excusable, is beyond me!
- Patricia, Reading, England
Violent protest is wrong and can never be justified, and I do send genuine sympathies to those hurt. However a lot of people seeing this news story will have some sympathy with the idea of being able to fight back against the way the British motorist is being treated. If road tolls go ahead, I for one will join any form of legal protest against it. Even the British public has its limits of tolerance!
- Stephen, London
So if you are skint and can't pay a fine then don't break the law in the first place - the rules are there for a reason. There is not excuse for innocent people trying to earn a honest living to get hurt doing what they are paid to do - their jobs! The unfairness lies with the government and local councils and NOT the admin staff.
- Jg, South East, UK
I must say I agree with Dipper, I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner - it only takes one skint disgruntled motorist who has incurred unfair fines or simply doesn't like being charged or fined in the first place.
- Isabel, Woking, England
I feel sorry for the innocents injured in these two incidents but I really think it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. The British public will fight back - fair means or foul. Viva la revolution.
- Dipper, Southend, UK
