Reid urges calm over ‘worrying’ letter bombs
Home secretary John Reid has described as “worrying” news of a spate of letter bombs exploding across the country this week.
A mail bomb at the DVLA offices in Swansea today became the third sent to businesses in the last three days. It was the seventh bomb discovered in three weeks, police said.
Three women were injured in today’s blast, and although South Wales police said they were keeping an “open mind”, it has been linked to similar attacks this week.
On Monday, a bomb in a Jiffy bag was sent to the London offices of Capita, which manages the London congestion charge, injuring a woman working the post room.
Yesterday, two workers were hurt when a letter exploded at the Wokingham offices of Vantis, an accountancy firm which deals with speed camera firm Speed Check Services.
Responding to today’s explosion, Mr Reid said it was worrying but urged people to refrain from speculating about the bombs and let police get on with finding the culprits.
Wales secretary Peter Hain said the “cowardly attack” at the DVLA was “deeply, deeply shocking” and sent his sympathies to the victims.
Asked about the incidents in the House of Commons this lunchtime, Tony Blair also expressed his condolences for the people injured by the letter bombs.
“Can I express my sympathy to all those who have been caught up in those incidents in your constituency and elsewhere,” he told local MP Sian James.
“And say how sorry we are that they have been put through what is obviously a very traumatic time for them. I hope that they recover from the injuries that they have sustained.”
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents DVLA staff, said this week’s events were cause for “deep concern” and called for an urgent review of security in all post rooms in the civil service.
General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “It is completely unacceptable that people who
serve the public have been targeted in such a way and we urge staff across the whole of the civil service to be extra vigilant.”
Assistant chief constable Anton Setchell, the national coordinator for domestic extremism at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), warned today: “The packages received so far have caused minor injuries, but could have been more serious.
“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.”
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