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| Police hunting London car bombers | Police hunting London car bombers |
| (30 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. | 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 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 Send us your comments | The second Mercedes in Park Lane also contained explosive materials Send us your comments |
| 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 |