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| Bomb linked to undercover police to be investigated | Bomb linked to undercover police to be investigated |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland Yard is reinvestigating a 1987 firebomb attack after an allegation it was planted by a member of an undercover police unit. | |
| In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it was pursuing lines of inquiry linked to the incident at a Debenhams department store in north London. | In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it was pursuing lines of inquiry linked to the incident at a Debenhams department store in north London. |
| It said new evidence had emerged during a review of undercover operations. | It said new evidence had emerged during a review of undercover operations. |
| In 2012 an MP used parliamentary privilege to allege that an officer had planted the device in north London. | In 2012 an MP used parliamentary privilege to allege that an officer had planted the device in north London. |
| The announcement by the Metropolitan Police is one of the most significant developments since allegations of wrongdoing first emerged against the force's now disbanded Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). | The announcement by the Metropolitan Police is one of the most significant developments since allegations of wrongdoing first emerged against the force's now disbanded Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). |
| The SDS, shut down in 2008, was a secret team inside Special Branch which was tasked with infiltrating political protest groups and activists associated with a range of left-wing or alternative causes, including animal rights campaigners. | The SDS, shut down in 2008, was a secret team inside Special Branch which was tasked with infiltrating political protest groups and activists associated with a range of left-wing or alternative causes, including animal rights campaigners. |
| Scotland Yard said detectives had reopened the file into the incident in Harrow on 11 July 1987 which was believed to be linked to an anti-fur campaign. | Scotland Yard said detectives had reopened the file into the incident in Harrow on 11 July 1987 which was believed to be linked to an anti-fur campaign. |
| "A team is now pursuing a number of lines of enquiry which were identified following a thematic review of the original investigation, by the then bomb squad," said the force. | "A team is now pursuing a number of lines of enquiry which were identified following a thematic review of the original investigation, by the then bomb squad," said the force. |
| "This will include exploiting potential advances in DNA techniques, new information that has been established by Operation Herne [the internal police investigation into historical undercover policing] and claims made under parliamentary privilege by an MP in 2012." | "This will include exploiting potential advances in DNA techniques, new information that has been established by Operation Herne [the internal police investigation into historical undercover policing] and claims made under parliamentary privilege by an MP in 2012." |
| In 2012, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, speaking in Parliament, said that Geoff Sheppard, one of the activists convicted in relation to the incident had named a former senior SDS officer as being behind the attack. | In 2012, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, speaking in Parliament, said that Geoff Sheppard, one of the activists convicted in relation to the incident had named a former senior SDS officer as being behind the attack. |
| Ms Lucas said Mr Sheppard alleged that Bob Lambert had planted the device after he had been deployed undercover. | Ms Lucas said Mr Sheppard alleged that Bob Lambert had planted the device after he had been deployed undercover. |
| The former officer, whose time undercover investigating the Animal Liberation Front is not disputed, has vehemently denied playing any part in the bombing. | The former officer, whose time undercover investigating the Animal Liberation Front is not disputed, has vehemently denied playing any part in the bombing. |
| "I did not commit serious crime such as planting an incendiary device at the [Debenhams] Harrow store," Mr Lambert said in 2012. | "I did not commit serious crime such as planting an incendiary device at the [Debenhams] Harrow store," Mr Lambert said in 2012. |
| Mr Sheppard and a second man, Andrew Clarke, launched appeals appeals against their convictions in 2014. | Mr Sheppard and a second man, Andrew Clarke, launched appeals appeals against their convictions in 2014. |
| The Scotland Yard statement said that the reinvestigation was being led by a senior detective from the Directorate of Professional Standards, the arm of the force that looks into allegations made against police officers. | The Scotland Yard statement said that the reinvestigation was being led by a senior detective from the Directorate of Professional Standards, the arm of the force that looks into allegations made against police officers. |
| "As with all ongoing investigations we are not prepared to give a running commentary on its progress, nor to identify who may or may not be subject of the investigation. | "As with all ongoing investigations we are not prepared to give a running commentary on its progress, nor to identify who may or may not be subject of the investigation. |
| "The MPS has made the public inquiry into undercover policing aware of this re-investigation." | "The MPS has made the public inquiry into undercover policing aware of this re-investigation." |
| The attack in Harrow, north-west London, caused £340,000 of damage and was part of a series of attacks that also targeted stores in Romford and Luton. In all Debenhams lost £8m in relation to the incidents and stopped selling furs. | The attack in Harrow, north-west London, caused £340,000 of damage and was part of a series of attacks that also targeted stores in Romford and Luton. In all Debenhams lost £8m in relation to the incidents and stopped selling furs. |