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Tipton mosque blast 'terrorist attack' | Tipton mosque blast 'terrorist attack' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An explosion which left nails and debris strewn outside a mosque was "terrorism", police have said. | An explosion which left nails and debris strewn outside a mosque was "terrorism", police have said. |
The blast happened on a disused railway line near Binfield Street in Tipton in the West Midlands at about 13:00 BST. | The blast happened on a disused railway line near Binfield Street in Tipton in the West Midlands at about 13:00 BST. |
A nearby shopkeeper said: "I did tell the police there to evacuate the area, please for god's sake - there were nails all over the place." | A nearby shopkeeper said: "I did tell the police there to evacuate the area, please for god's sake - there were nails all over the place." |
Counter terrorism officers have been called in and the surrounding area has been completely closed off. | Counter terrorism officers have been called in and the surrounding area has been completely closed off. |
'Tipton Taliban' tag | |
The mosque previously hit the headlines when it was revealed as the place of worship for three men from the area who were captured in Afghanistan in 2002 and taken to Guantanamo Bay. | |
Ruhal Ahmed, Asif Iqbal, both 22 at the time, and 26-year-old Shafiq Rasul were dubbed the "Tipton Taliban" and were held at the US camp in Cuba for two years. | |
A force spokesman said: "Some residents have reported finding debris in the area and finding nails. | A force spokesman said: "Some residents have reported finding debris in the area and finding nails. |
"This is being investigated by counter terrorism detectives and forensic officers at the scene." | "This is being investigated by counter terrorism detectives and forensic officers at the scene." |
Shopkeeper Sadarat Khan said he was coming out of a local chemist when he heard a "bomb blast". | Shopkeeper Sadarat Khan said he was coming out of a local chemist when he heard a "bomb blast". |
He said: "They [the police] didn't seem to be bothered too much... It took them about 40 minutes to evacuate the place. | He said: "They [the police] didn't seem to be bothered too much... It took them about 40 minutes to evacuate the place. |
"People were terrified and very scared and shaken". | "People were terrified and very scared and shaken". |
BBC reporters at the scene were told prayers at the mosque were usually held at 13:00 , but had been moved back an hour because of Ramadan. | BBC reporters at the scene were told prayers at the mosque were usually held at 13:00 , but had been moved back an hour because of Ramadan. |
"Residents say the mosque would have been full had the timings not changed for Friday prayers, which would have meant casualties," BBC 5 Live reporter Phil Mackie said. | "Residents say the mosque would have been full had the timings not changed for Friday prayers, which would have meant casualties," BBC 5 Live reporter Phil Mackie said. |
Among the road closures are parts of Sedgley Road East, Dudley Port, Jays Avenue, Tudor Court, Park Lane East, Crompton Road and Victoria Road. | Among the road closures are parts of Sedgley Road East, Dudley Port, Jays Avenue, Tudor Court, Park Lane East, Crompton Road and Victoria Road. |
Police gave bottles of water to residents with young children who gathered along Dudley Port in Tipton. | Police gave bottles of water to residents with young children who gathered along Dudley Port in Tipton. |
'Day of funeral' | 'Day of funeral' |
Tipton councillor Ian Jones said he was "very shocked" at what had happened. | Tipton councillor Ian Jones said he was "very shocked" at what had happened. |
He told BBC WM it could not "go unnoticed" that the incident happened on the same day of the funeral of Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was killed in Woolwich in May. | He told BBC WM it could not "go unnoticed" that the incident happened on the same day of the funeral of Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was killed in Woolwich in May. |
Councillor Syeda Amina Khatun said she was not aware of any previous attacks on the mosque. | Councillor Syeda Amina Khatun said she was not aware of any previous attacks on the mosque. |
She said: "The explosion has gone off on the disused railway line behind the mosque. | She said: "The explosion has gone off on the disused railway line behind the mosque. |
"The whole estate has been blocked off. People are surprised that something like this has happened." | "The whole estate has been blocked off. People are surprised that something like this has happened." |
West Midlands Police are still investigating an explosion which occurred near a mosque in Caldmore in Walsall last month. | West Midlands Police are still investigating an explosion which occurred near a mosque in Caldmore in Walsall last month. |
About 150 people were evacuated from homes near Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre after a device was found in a nearby alley. | About 150 people were evacuated from homes near Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre after a device was found in a nearby alley. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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