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| Police hunting London car bombers | Police hunting London car bombers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Anti-terrorism police have launched a huge manhunt for the people who planted two car bombs in central London. | Anti-terrorism police have launched a huge manhunt for the people who planted two car bombs in central London. |
| Two Mercedes - left on Friday outside a club in Haymarket and a nearby street - contained petrol, gas cylinders and nails but the devices did not detonate. | |
| On Saturday a blazing car was driven into Glasgow Airport's terminal building. Police said it was too early to say if it was terrorist-related. | |
| Police in London are studying CCTV footage in the search for suspects. | |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the threat must not stop people from getting on with their lives. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the threat must not stop people from getting on with their lives. |
| She was speaking after government emergencies committee Cobra, chaired by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, met for the second time in two days. | She was speaking after government emergencies committee Cobra, chaired by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, met for the second time in two days. |
| Both Mercedes were found to contain explosive materials Car bomb leads Eyewitness accounts | Both Mercedes were found to contain explosive materials Car bomb leads Eyewitness accounts |
| The meeting brought together Ms Smith, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. Ms Kelly was communities secretary under Tony Blair with a brief to combat radicalisation. | The meeting brought together Ms Smith, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. Ms Kelly was communities secretary under Tony Blair with a brief to combat radicalisation. |
| Ms Smith said: "The prime minister stressed that all parts of government must work together to combat the terror threat. | Ms Smith said: "The prime minister stressed that all parts of government must work together to combat the terror threat. |
| "I'm satisfied that across government and with the police and agencies we are doing all we can to protect the public." | "I'm satisfied that across government and with the police and agencies we are doing all we can to protect the public." |
| She said the public must carry on reporting anything suspicious and to be vigilant. | She said the public must carry on reporting anything suspicious and to be vigilant. |
| "I must stress that we mustn't let the threat of terror stop us from getting on with our lives," she added. | "I must stress that we mustn't let the threat of terror stop us from getting on with our lives," she added. |
| Mr Brown visited Scotland Yard earlier for an update on the investigation. | Mr Brown visited Scotland Yard earlier for an update on the investigation. |
| Good progress is said to have already been made in the search of CCTV footage, with unconfirmed reports suggesting police may have an image of a suspect leaving the vehicle left outside the Tiger Tiger club in Haymarket near Piccadilly Circus. | Good progress is said to have already been made in the search of CCTV footage, with unconfirmed reports suggesting police may have an image of a suspect leaving the vehicle left outside the Tiger Tiger club in Haymarket near Piccadilly Circus. |
| Security reviewed | Security reviewed |
| Police have increased their patrols and security for a number of events being held in the city over the weekend including the Gay Pride parade, the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium and the Wimbledon tennis championships. | Police have increased their patrols and security for a number of events being held in the city over the weekend including the Gay Pride parade, the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium and the Wimbledon tennis championships. |
| See map of where devices were found | See map of where devices were found |
| TIGER TIGER NIGHTCLUB Thursday night was 'Ladies Night'Maximum capacity: 1,700 on four floorsWitnesses said there were about 500 people there on Thursday | TIGER TIGER NIGHTCLUB Thursday night was 'Ladies Night'Maximum capacity: 1,700 on four floorsWitnesses said there were about 500 people there on Thursday |
| Police said the safety of the public was their top priority and urged everyone to remain vigilant. | Police said the safety of the public was their top priority and urged everyone to remain vigilant. |
| Met Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said a "very significant security operation" was in place. | Met Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said a "very significant security operation" was in place. |
| "What is really amazing is that London wants to - and has - returned to normality and lots of events that are supposed to take place are taking place," he said. | "What is really amazing is that London wants to - and has - returned to normality and lots of events that are supposed to take place are taking place," he said. |
| London Mayor Ken Livingstone told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think people are completely safe to walk about the streets of London today and tomorrow." | London Mayor Ken Livingstone told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think people are completely safe to walk about the streets of London today and tomorrow." |
| Petrol vapour | Petrol vapour |
| News that the second Mercedes also contained explosive materials came on Friday evening, several hours after details of the car abandoned outside Tiger Tiger had emerged. | News that the second Mercedes also contained explosive materials came on Friday evening, several hours after details of the car abandoned outside Tiger Tiger had emerged. |
| Simultaneous, co-ordinated bombs have historically been a distinguishing feature of [al-Qaeda's] anti-Western attacks Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent Car bombs timeline In pictures: Car bomb | Simultaneous, co-ordinated bombs have historically been a distinguishing feature of [al-Qaeda's] anti-Western attacks Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent Car bombs timeline In pictures: Car bomb |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said simultaneous, co-ordinated bombs have been historically a distinguishing feature of al-Qaeda attacks. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said simultaneous, co-ordinated bombs have been historically a distinguishing feature of al-Qaeda attacks. |
| The first bomb was found when an ambulance crew, called to Tiger Tiger at 0125 BST to deal with someone taken ill, spotted what appeared to be vapour inside a metallic green Mercedes parked outside the club. | The first bomb was found when an ambulance crew, called to Tiger Tiger at 0125 BST to deal with someone taken ill, spotted what appeared to be vapour inside a metallic green Mercedes parked outside the club. |
| The second device was discovered in a blue Mercedes 280E at a Park Lane car pound after the smell of petrol was detected. | The second device was discovered in a blue Mercedes 280E at a Park Lane car pound after the smell of petrol was detected. |
| The vehicle had been towed away at 0330 BST on Friday after being given a ticket for illegally parking in Cockspur Street, near Trafalgar Square. | The vehicle had been towed away at 0330 BST on Friday after being given a ticket for illegally parking in Cockspur Street, near Trafalgar Square. |
| Both contained bombs which were similar, potentially viable and clearly linked, police said. | Both contained bombs which were similar, potentially viable and clearly linked, police said. |
| Previous cases | Previous cases |
| It is understood that the devices were intended to have been detonated remotely by mobile phone but for some reason they did not work. | It is understood that the devices were intended to have been detonated remotely by mobile phone but for some reason they did not work. |
| Police are looking at footage from CCTV close the parked cars | Police are looking at footage from CCTV close the parked cars |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said the discovery of the second device was "obviously troubling" and "reinforces the need for the public to be alert". | Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said the discovery of the second device was "obviously troubling" and "reinforces the need for the public to be alert". |
| He said the Haymarket incident "resonated" with previous cases. | He said the Haymarket incident "resonated" with previous cases. |
| Five men were jailed for life in April for a bomb plot linked to al-Qaeda that planned to use a fertiliser bomb to target a shopping centre and a nightclub. | Five men were jailed for life in April for a bomb plot linked to al-Qaeda that planned to use a fertiliser bomb to target a shopping centre and a nightclub. |
| And Dhiren Barot was jailed for life last November for conspiring to park limousines packed with gas canisters underneath high-profile buildings before detonating them. | And Dhiren Barot was jailed for life last November for conspiring to park limousines packed with gas canisters underneath high-profile buildings before detonating them. |
| The current terror threat level has been classed severe - one level lower than the highest "critical" - since 14 August 2006. | The current terror threat level has been classed severe - one level lower than the highest "critical" - since 14 August 2006. |
| Police have urged anyone with information to phone the confidential Anti-Terrorist hotline number on 0800789321. | Police have urged anyone with information to phone the confidential Anti-Terrorist hotline number on 0800789321. |
| Return to top | Return to top |