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| Police hunting London car bombers | Police hunting London car bombers |
| (10 minutes 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. |
| Police, who have described events as "troubling", are studying hours of CCTV footage in the search for suspects. | Police, who have described events as "troubling", are studying hours of CCTV footage in the search for suspects. |
| The cars - both Mercedes - were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders, but the devices were not detonated. | The cars - both Mercedes - were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders, but the devices were not detonated. |
| One car was found outside a nightclub near Piccadilly Circus early on Friday, while the second was towed to a Park Lane pound before its device was found. | One car was found outside a nightclub near Piccadilly Circus early on Friday, while the second was towed to a Park Lane pound before its device was found. |
| Security reviewed | Security reviewed |
| 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. | |
| See map of where devices were found | See map of where devices were found |
| Meanwhile, the government's emergencies committee, Cobra, is due to meet on Saturday morning, likely to be chaired by Gordon Brown. | Meanwhile, the government's emergencies committee, Cobra, is due to meet on Saturday morning, likely to be chaired by Gordon Brown. |
| Simultaneous, co-ordinated bombs have historically been a distinguishing feature of [al-Qaeda's] anti-Western attacks Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent Car bomb leads 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 bomb leads In pictures: Car bomb |
| And police have increased their patrols of the capital and are reviewing security for a number of public events being held in the city. | And police have increased their patrols of the capital and are reviewing security for a number of public events being held in the city. |
| The Gay Pride parade in central London on Saturday, the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, and Wimbledon tennis championships are all taking place this weekend. | The Gay Pride parade in central London on Saturday, the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, and Wimbledon tennis championships are all taking place this weekend. |
| 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. |
| And London Mayor Ken Livingstone told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Londoners should not stay at home. | And London Mayor Ken Livingstone told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Londoners should not stay at home. |
| He said: "I think people are completely safe to walk about the streets of London today and tomorrow." | He said: "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. |
| Police have increased their patrols of London Eyewitness accounts Car bombs timeline | Police have increased their patrols of London Eyewitness accounts Car bombs timeline |
| 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 a someone taken ill, spotted smoke believed to have been from petrol 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 a someone taken ill, spotted smoke believed to have been from petrol 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. |
| The second Mercedes in Park Lane also contained explosive materials | The second Mercedes in Park Lane also contained explosive materials |
| 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". |
| Earlier he had said the Haymarket incident "resonated" with previous cases. | Earlier he had 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 |