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Jiffy bombs: all UK offices on alert
Last updated at 17:52pm on 07.02.07
The DVLA office in Swansea, where a letter bomb exploded today
Police this evening issued a warning to all office staff after it emerged that seven letter bombs have been sent in the last three weeks.
The plea to take extra care when handling mail came as a woman injured in the latest Jiffy bag attack told of her horror.
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The office worker, a mother in her thirties, is recovering in hospital where she said: "I was shaken, shocked and frightened.
"Everybody started running around me. But I didn't really know what had happened."
She was treated for cuts after the bomb went off in her hands in the post room of the DVLA centre in Swansea.
Three colleagues, two men and a woman who were feet away, were checked for hearing problems.
So far 10 people have been injured, mainly staff in post rooms, when the devices exploded as they were being handled. A woman was scorched by the blast from an incendiary bomb in London and a man was lucky not to be blinded.
An anti-terrorist chief is leading the investigation which involves police from four forces. Four of the attacks are believed to be the work of a bomber with a grudge against motoring firms.
A congestion charge firm was targeted and Transport for London staff have been told to be on their guard.
The other three attacks may have been the work of animal rights activists but police are investigating if they could all be linked.
Each of the packages contained "viable explosive devices", according to police.
Today's explosion was the third in as many days and prompted Tony Blair and Home Secretary John Reid to express their concern.
An investigation is being led by the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism, Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell.
He said: "The packages received so far have caused minor injuries, but could have been more serious.
"I am appealing for companies, organisations and individuals to take extra care. If they have any suspicions about any letter or package, they should leave it unopened and call the police immediately." All incoming mail to the DVLA was stopped today in the wake of the blast.
The Local Government Association's chief executive Paul Coen said: "Many council workers are on the front line of this important work and deal on a day-today 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."
Yesterday two people were hurt when a letter bomb went off at the Wokingham offices of speed camera accountancy firm Vantis.
On Monday a woman was injured when an incendiary device in a Jiffy bag exploded in her hands at the Westminster office of congestion firm Capita.
Police revealed today that a similar device went off on Saturday. Michael Wingfield, 53, of Folkestone, suffered burns to his face and abdomen and cuts when he opened a Jiffy bag at his office.
He said today: "I have no idea why I was sent this letter bomb. Me and my family, as far as I know, have never done anything against anybody who would have a grudge against us." He said the parcel "went bang" as soon as he opened it. His wife Rose was slightly injured.
A friend said: "He runs a security company that provides guards and bouncers for clients. He works for a lot of different clients, but I don't know if that includes car-related businesses."
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.
The other three bombs arrived on 18 January. They targeted science firms and were thought to have been sent by an animal rights campaigner.
Two were in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. A 40-year-old woman was injured when a device sent to a biosience firm ignited. The other was sent to a forensics company.
The third was an A5 Jiffy bag with a crude firework-type explosive sent to a forensics company in Birmingham. This failed to go off.
These three had a similar return address. 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 of the envelopes.
Reader views (3)
It took three bombs before Blair and Reid "expressed their concerns"? How many are needed before they beef up the security in this country?
Ten years of Labour has made this country a very dangerous place to live in. Thanks voters.
- P.Robinson, Northants, UK
So we have a "national coordinator for domestic extremism" - surely, we should be disrupting this sort of thing, not coordinating it?
- Andy, London, UK
"Police are believed to be investigating the possibility that the culprit is a disgruntled motorist" - glad to see the spirit of Sherlock Holmes alive and well within the forces of law and order in our once great nation.
- Squiz, Islington
