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Suspicious packages found at army career offices and RAF base Crude explosive devices sent to UK army careers offices
(about 2 hours later)
Counter-terrorism police and military bomb disposal teams are investigating reports that suspicious packages have been sent to army careers offices in Oxford, Slough, Brighton, Canterbury, Aldershot, Reading and Chatham. Another package was found at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. Counter-terrorism police and military bomb disposal experts are investigating after a series of crude but viable explosive devices were sent to army careers offices in south-eastern England.
Queensmere shopping centre in Slough was evacuated on Thursday, a spokesman for the centre confirmed, while St Giles in Oxford was closed. It is understood a suspicious package was also reported at the army careers office in St Peters Street, Canterbury. The Kentish Gazette said officers had set up a cordon and shoppers were being told to avoid the area. The Guardian understands that the incidents are not thought to have been inspired by al-Qaida. Although the devices were viable, their construction was crude and basic and so they were unlikely to cause serious injury.
David Cameron chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra emergencies committee to discuss the packages this afternoon, Downing Street said.
Four suspicious packages were discovered at army careers offices in Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury and Slough on Thursday, counter-terrorism police officers said.
One package was found in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Wednesday, while two packets were found on Tuesday at the armed forces careers office in Reading, Berkshire, and the army and RAF careers office in Chatham, Kent.
Queensmere shopping centre in Slough was evacuated on Thursday, a spokesman for the centre confirmed, while St Giles in Oxford was closed. Kent police said a cordon had been put in place on St Peters Street in Canterbury after reports of a suspect package were received just after midday.
Sussex police said a bomb disposal team had been called in after a suspicious package was reported in Queen's Road, Brighton, at 10.40am. The road was sealed off between North Road and North Street, and neighbouring streets were also closed, including Spring Gardens, Kew Street, Zion Gardens, Windsor Street, Titchbourne Street and Church Street.Sussex police said a bomb disposal team had been called in after a suspicious package was reported in Queen's Road, Brighton, at 10.40am. The road was sealed off between North Road and North Street, and neighbouring streets were also closed, including Spring Gardens, Kew Street, Zion Gardens, Windsor Street, Titchbourne Street and Church Street.
Insp James Davidson said: "A number of roads have been sealed off and some buildings are being evacuated while the package is investigated. I would ask people to stay away from the area for the next few hours while we deal with the incident." The south-east counter-terrorism unit (Sectu) – which covers Thames valley, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent – confirmed that seven suspect packages had been received at seven army careers offices since Tuesday.
The East Anglian Daily Times reported that a suspicious package was found in a vehicle entering RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk just before 8.30am. As a result the main gate to the base was closed until 11am. "The contents of the packages are suspicious in nature and will now be sent off for forensic examination," said Detective Superintendent Stan Gilmour of Sectu. "Even if the contents are determined to be a viable device they pose a very low-level threat and are unlikely to cause significant harm or damage."
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parker told the paper: "Security personnel discovered the package and initiated enhanced security measures. The British explosive ordnance disposal unit is on scene to investigate the package. All security measures are in place to ensure the safety of individuals until officials can determine the contents of the package." He added: "When a suspect package is reported we have a routine response which means we may need to evacuate the area if necessary until we can be sure it poses no threat to the public. Whilst this can cause concern and disruption for local communities, it is a necessary precaution until we know what we are dealing with."
Suspicious packages are understood to have been sent to army careers offices in Chatham and Reading on Tuesday this week, and another was found at an office in Aldershot on Wednesday. A security alert at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk – sparked following a routine vehicle search at the base on Thursday morning – is understood to have been a false alarm and not related to the investigation at the armed forces recruitment offices.
DS Stan Gilmour, of the south-east counter terrorism unit, said: "Because suspicious packages were found at various locations yesterday, notes were sent out to all the army careers offices, as well as the Post Office, asking staff to be extra vigilant and look out for any suspect packages." A spokesman for a US air force squadron based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk said a suspicious package had been discovered in a vehicle entering the facility just before 8.30am. As a result the main gate to the base was closed until 11am.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said security advice to service personnel had been reiterated: "We can confirm that we are aware of security incidents ongoing in Oxford, Slough and Brighton involving armed forces careers offices. The relevant police authorities are investigating with military EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) teams in support." Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parker, commander of the US 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, said: "The gate was closed at approximately 8.24am after 100th Security Forces Squadron personnel found a suspicious package during a routine vehicle inspection. The 100th Security Forces Squadron, Ministry of Defence and British Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel worked together to clear the scene, and they have certified it is now safe."
The Guardian understands that police do not believe the incidents to be inspired by al-Qaida. A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said security advice to service personnel had been reiterated, adding: "We can confirm that we are aware of security incidents ongoing in Oxford, Slough and Brighton involving armed forces careers offices. The relevant police authorities are investigating with military EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] teams in support."