Suspect packages found at army careers offices

Prime Minister David Cameron chaired a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergencies committee to discuss the suspicious parcels, which sources said were “crude” in design but “could have caused injury to others”.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “Seven suspect packages have been identified as containing small, crude but potentially viable devices bearing the hallmarks of Northern Ireland-related terrorism.

“These have now been safely dealt with by the police and bomb disposal units.

“Guidance has been issued to staff at all military establishments and Royal Mail asking them to be extra vigilant and to look out for any suspect packages, and the screening procedures for mail to armed forces careers offices is being reviewed.

“The national threat level remains under constant review.”

Sources in Dublin indicated that two of the seven low-grade explosive parcels were sent from Ireland.

The others, it is understood, were delivered from different locations within Britain. Although they were not sophisticated, they were described as viable.

While no group has yet to claim responsibility, it is believed dissident republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process are behind the intimidation attempt.

Four parcels were discovered at army careers offices in Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury and the Queensmere shopping centre in Slough yesterday, counter-terrorism police officers said. One package was found in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Wednesday while two packets were found on Tuesday at an armed forces careers office in Reading, Berkshire, and the army and RAF careers office in Chatham, Kent, the South East Counter Terrorism Unit (Sectu) said.

Ministry of Defence bomb disposal units were called, although this is routine with any suspect package.

The official threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism is set separately for Northern Ireland and the rest of Great Britain.

In Northern Ireland it is “severe” and in Great Britain “moderate”, meaning an attack is possible, but not likely.

James Brokenshire MP, who recently took on the post of immigration minister but was previously security minister, was present at the Cobra meeting, which is also likely to have been attended by intelligence chiefs as well as government officials and senior police officers.

Detective Superintendent Stan Gilmour, of Sectu, earlier said: “The contents of the packages are suspicious in nature and will now be sent off for forensic examination.

“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.

“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. While this can cause concern and disruption for local communities, it is a necessary precaution until we know what we are dealing with.”

Advice has been sent to the Royal Mail and to the Ministry of Defence to ensure that staff “remain vigilant”, Sectu added.