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Man charged over letter bombings | Man charged over letter bombings |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A school caretaker has been charged over a series of letter bombs sent to addresses in England and Wales. | A school caretaker has been charged over a series of letter bombs sent to addresses in England and Wales. |
Miles Cooper, 27, has been charged with seven offences under the Explosive Substances Act and with five offences against the person. | Miles Cooper, 27, has been charged with seven offences under the Explosive Substances Act and with five offences against the person. |
He was arrested on Monday in Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, in connection with seven devices posted over three weeks. | He was arrested on Monday in Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, in connection with seven devices posted over three weeks. |
Nine people were hurt in the attacks in London, Swansea, the West Midlands, Berkshire, Kent and Oxfordshire. | Nine people were hurt in the attacks in London, Swansea, the West Midlands, Berkshire, Kent and Oxfordshire. |
Investigation continuing | Investigation continuing |
Mr Cooper is due to appear at Banbury Magistrates' Court in Oxfordshire on Friday. | Mr Cooper is due to appear at Banbury Magistrates' Court in Oxfordshire on Friday. |
Anton Setchell, the Association of Chief Police Officers' national co-ordinator for domestic extremism, said Mr Cooper had been charged "in connection with a series of improvised explosive devices that were sent through the post to companies and organisations". | Anton Setchell, the Association of Chief Police Officers' national co-ordinator for domestic extremism, said Mr Cooper had been charged "in connection with a series of improvised explosive devices that were sent through the post to companies and organisations". |
I am now satisfied that there are no other postal packages connected to this inquiry that will present a danger to the public Anton Setchell | I am now satisfied that there are no other postal packages connected to this inquiry that will present a danger to the public Anton Setchell |
Mr Setchell said the letter bomb investigation, Operation Hansel, was "progressing well" and would continue for many weeks. | Mr Setchell said the letter bomb investigation, Operation Hansel, was "progressing well" and would continue for many weeks. |
He added: "I am now satisfied that there are no other postal packages connected to this inquiry that will present a danger to the public." | He added: "I am now satisfied that there are no other postal packages connected to this inquiry that will present a danger to the public." |
Paul Harrison, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the service had been assessing all available evidence in order to decide on charges "at the earliest possible opportunity". | Paul Harrison, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the service had been assessing all available evidence in order to decide on charges "at the earliest possible opportunity". |
There was sufficient evidence to charge Mr Cooper with 12 offences contrary to the Explosive Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act, he said. | There was sufficient evidence to charge Mr Cooper with 12 offences contrary to the Explosive Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act, he said. |
He added: "We will continue to keep this case under constant review as it develops." | He added: "We will continue to keep this case under constant review as it develops." |
Injuries | Injuries |
Seven of the 12 charges relate to the seven letter bombs, while the other five charges relate to the people who were injured after opening them. | Seven of the 12 charges relate to the seven letter bombs, while the other five charges relate to the people who were injured after opening them. |
Four workers were injured when a parcel bomb exploded in the post room at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's main centre in Swansea earlier this month. | |
During the previous week, two men had suffered blast wounds to their hands and upper bodies in a "small explosion" at accountancy company Vantis in Wokingham, Berkshire, and a woman had been hurt in an explosion at the Capita office building in Victoria Street, Victoria, London. | During the previous week, two men had suffered blast wounds to their hands and upper bodies in a "small explosion" at accountancy company Vantis in Wokingham, Berkshire, and a woman had been hurt in an explosion at the Capita office building in Victoria Street, Victoria, London. |
The previous four bombs were sent to a private home in Folkestone, Kent, two companies in Oxfordshire and the Forensic Science Service in Chelmsley Wood, near Birmingham. | The previous four bombs were sent to a private home in Folkestone, Kent, two companies in Oxfordshire and the Forensic Science Service in Chelmsley Wood, near Birmingham. |