Suspicious packages found at Heathrow Airport, Waterloo railway station and London City Airport on Tuesday contained explosive devices, police said.
Counterterror officers are investigating the three incidents as “linked” after all the packages – A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags – were assessed to be small improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
One of the packages opened by staff at Heathrow caught fire, but no one was injured.
Neither of the devices found at Waterloo and London City Airport ignited, but workers at the airport’s Aviation House were evacuated as a precaution.
Irish police said they were “assisting the Metropolitan Police with their enquiries” after photos of the packages appeared to show Republic of Ireland stamps.
Scotland Yard has not ruled out the existence of other bombs, and issued advice to people travelling across London to be “vigilant” and report any suspicious packages.
Here's how the day unfolded:
Counterterror officers are investigating three devices found earlier on Tuesday.
Here’s Lizzie Dearden with more:
Heathrow, London City Airport and Waterloo devices were bombs, terror police say
Police ask transport hubs across London to be vigilant amid concern there could be other devicesLondon City Airport said in a statement: “We can confirm that City Aviation House has reopened and staff have returned safely, following the evacuation of approximately 100 staff at 12.15pm due to the discovery of a small improvised explosive device.
“Specialist police officers dealt with the device, which did not affect flight operations. The airport terminal remained open throughout. Inquiries by the Metropolitan Police are ongoing.”
Aviation House is where some airport staff work and is a two-minute walk from the passenger terminal. The building was reopened shortly before 4pm.
A travel update following today’s security alerts. Rush hour has continued unhindered at Waterloo railway station with trains running as normal.
A small group of police officers have remained behind the cordon near the Network Rail office where the package was believed to have been found.
No flights or passengers at Heathrow or City airports were affected. DLR services to London City Airport were briefly suspended but are now fully operational.
Police in the Republic of Ireland have confirmed they have been asked to assist the Metropolitan Police after Irish post stamps were seen on the packages.
A spokesperson for the Gardai said: “We are assisting the Metropolitan Police with their inquiries.”
More from our Home Affairs Correspondent Lizzie Dearden on the stamps seen on images of the packages sent today.
The British Transport Police (BTP) have released a statement. “Understandably the discovery of these items may cause concern, however I would like to offer some reassurance to those passengers intending to travel this evening,” said BTP assistant chief constable Sean O’Callaghan.
“We will have a number of specially trained officers on duty to keep commuters safe and reassured. Officers will be highly visible on station concourses, on board trains as well as the London Underground network. If you have any concerns, please speak with us or indeed a member or rail staff.
“Passengers are of course the eyes and ears of the network and we want to hear from you if you see something that doesn’t look right. You can report something by discreetly sending us a text to 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40.”
Security expert Will Geddes claimed the security incidents were to be expected given the current threat level.
“We’ve not had a significant incident for quite some time,” he told the Press Association. “To be honest, we were anticipating something happening. Transportation hubs have always been on the agenda for any kind of terrorist group.”
“The biggest threat you’re always going to have is someone leaving an IED in an unattended bag.”
Speaking about photos posted on social media claiming to show some of the packages involved, Mr Geddes said: “It would appear that they have been hand written addressed envelopes, which in itself will be potential forensic treasure for the investigators to try and track and trace who might have been the originator.”
One man among a group of Network Rail staff gathered outside the company’s office at Waterloo said he was the individual who found the package at the station.
Asked about the discovery, he told the Press Association: “I’m sorry, I’ve been told I can’t talk about it.”
The BBC’s Daniel Sandford has shared higher-quality images of two of the discovered IED packages. They appear to show bogus information scrawled in the senders’ name and address box.
If you just catching up with the security alerts in London, here’s a brief timeline of Tuesday’s discoveries.
9.55am: Heathrow’s Compass Centre was evacuated after a suspicious package was reported to police. It was opened by staff, causing the device to initiate, resulting in part of the package burning.
11.40am: a second package was discovered in the post room at Waterloo station.
12.10pm: A third package was found at Aviation House at London City Airport, leading workers in the building to be evacuated as a precaution.
At the end of the afternoon, around 4.30pm, the Metropolitan Police revealed the suspicious packages – all A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags – had been assessed to be small improvised explosive devices.
Chris Phillips, the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, says he would have expected major transport hub offices to have had scanning processes in place to prevent IEDs being opened.
“This shouldn’t actually get to the desk of anyone,” he told the BBC News channel. “There may be others out there, and these things will, potentially, take your hand off if you open them incorrectly.”
“Usually these things come in waves,” he added. “Everyone needs to be aware of this. Hopefully the police will put out what these packages look like so people have got an opportunity to stop them before they get opened.”
Sky News’ Ireland correspondent Stephen Murphy says sources in both Dublin and London are “downplaying” the possible connection to Irish dissidents.
One of the photos posted on social media of the package sent to Waterloo station appears to show a senders address as Bus Eireann, Dublin. But the bus operator said police had not been in touch, with a spokeswoman telling the Press Association: “Bus Eireann are currently not aware of this and we have no further comment.”
