3 small bombs found at London airports, rail station, says police

Britain’s counterterrorism police are investigating after three padded mailing bags with what appears to be small explosive devices inside were found in London.

Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command on Tuesday evening launched an investigation after three suspicious packages containing improvised explosive devices were received at three separate locations across London, including near the Heathrow airport.

Passengers collect their luggage from the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport in west London on December 19, 2018. (AFP file photo/Image for representation.)

No arrests were made and there were no flight disruptions, but the police said the command is treating the incidents as linked and keeping an open mind on investigations. The packages were A4 sized white postal bags.

The packages were assessed by specialist officers to be small improvised explosive devices that appeared capable of igniting an initially small fire when opened.

The first package was discovered in a building in Hounslow, near Heathrow. It was opened by staff, causing the device to initiate, which resulted in part of the package burning. Specialist officers attended and made the device safe, the police said.

A Heathrow spokeswoman said the airport would assist the police investigation into the “criminal act”.

The second package was found at the busy Waterloo train station, where it was not opened. The third was discovered at the City Aviation House in the London City Airport in Newham. Staff were evacuated from the building and the package was not opened. No one was injured.