'Letter bomb' explodes at C-charge HQ in London
5th February 2007
Ambulances attend the scene in Victoria Street, London.
The Capita building in London, which was targeted today by a letter bomber
A letter bomb exploded in a woman's hands in the post room of congestion charge firm Capita today.
She suffered cuts to her stomach and injuries to her hands when the bomb, an incendiary device, went off.
Police said the bomb was contained in a Jiffy bag padded envelope. The woman who was handling it, said to be in her thirties, was not the intended recipient.
The blast left her marked with soot and she was led weeping and dazed from the building to an ambulance. More than 100 workers were evacuated from six floors of the building as police cordoned off the scene which is less than a mile from the Houses of Parliament.
A dozen police vans attended with more cars blocking the road at Parliament Square. Bomb disposal experts and police with sniffer dogs searched the offices in Victoria Street near Scotland Yard.
A worker from Capita who did not want to be named, said: "I can barely believe it. One minute she was standing there as normal and then it just seemed to blow up in her hand."
Capita manages the congestion charge as well as collecting revenue from TV licences and council tax. It chases late-payers and sends in bailiffs.
Ben Hetchin, 21, of Westminster, was walking past shortly after the explosion. He said: "We heard one of the fire officers say in very hushed tones that there had been a letter bomb. Then this woman came out of the building with her right hand in a makeshift bandage, like a boxing glove.
"She had black marks on her white top which looked like soot. She looked dazed and disbelieving."
One woman who was among those evacuated said: "We were told it was a critical situation and we had to get out immediately. It's all pretty frightening stuff."
Shar Rahma 24, assistant manager at a nearby opticians said: "The girl was crying her eyes out and looked like she was in a lot of pain."
Elaine Rogers, 44, manager of Shoe Masters said: "She had to be supported on both sides by a paramedic and another girl."
Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas said: "The Met's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating. The woman's injuries have been described as fairly minor though this was obviously a traumatic ordeal for her."
Witnesses described hearing a small explosion in the post room at about 9.40.
A spokesman for Capita said: "Capita can confirm that an incident took place at its Victoria Street office this morning involving an incendiary device. The police have asked us to make no further comment at this time as their investigation is proceeding."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said it was too early to say who may have been responsible for sending the bomb. The Old Bailey was cordoned off this afternoon after police discovered a suspect letter at the post room of an office opposite the court. It was a false alarm.
dailymail.co.uk
5th February 2007
Ambulances attend the scene in Victoria Street, London.
The Capita building in London, which was targeted today by a letter bomber
A letter bomb exploded in a woman's hands in the post room of congestion charge firm Capita today.
She suffered cuts to her stomach and injuries to her hands when the bomb, an incendiary device, went off.
Police said the bomb was contained in a Jiffy bag padded envelope. The woman who was handling it, said to be in her thirties, was not the intended recipient.
The blast left her marked with soot and she was led weeping and dazed from the building to an ambulance. More than 100 workers were evacuated from six floors of the building as police cordoned off the scene which is less than a mile from the Houses of Parliament.
A dozen police vans attended with more cars blocking the road at Parliament Square. Bomb disposal experts and police with sniffer dogs searched the offices in Victoria Street near Scotland Yard.
A worker from Capita who did not want to be named, said: "I can barely believe it. One minute she was standing there as normal and then it just seemed to blow up in her hand."
Capita manages the congestion charge as well as collecting revenue from TV licences and council tax. It chases late-payers and sends in bailiffs.
Ben Hetchin, 21, of Westminster, was walking past shortly after the explosion. He said: "We heard one of the fire officers say in very hushed tones that there had been a letter bomb. Then this woman came out of the building with her right hand in a makeshift bandage, like a boxing glove.
"She had black marks on her white top which looked like soot. She looked dazed and disbelieving."
One woman who was among those evacuated said: "We were told it was a critical situation and we had to get out immediately. It's all pretty frightening stuff."
Shar Rahma 24, assistant manager at a nearby opticians said: "The girl was crying her eyes out and looked like she was in a lot of pain."
Elaine Rogers, 44, manager of Shoe Masters said: "She had to be supported on both sides by a paramedic and another girl."
Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas said: "The Met's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating. The woman's injuries have been described as fairly minor though this was obviously a traumatic ordeal for her."
Witnesses described hearing a small explosion in the post room at about 9.40.
A spokesman for Capita said: "Capita can confirm that an incident took place at its Victoria Street office this morning involving an incendiary device. The police have asked us to make no further comment at this time as their investigation is proceeding."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said it was too early to say who may have been responsible for sending the bomb. The Old Bailey was cordoned off this afternoon after police discovered a suspect letter at the post room of an office opposite the court. It was a false alarm.
dailymail.co.uk