UK terror alert as two bombs are found in empty north London flat
- British police are racing to identify the makers of two IEDs found in a Craven Park home that was undergoing renovation
British counterterror detectives were racing to find who built two home-made explosive devices found at a disused flat in north London.
Police were called to an address in Craven Park, Brent, at 9.34am on Wednesday after reports of two suspicious devices found at the flat, which was being refurbished.
The Guardian understands that initial checks by counterterrorism investigators showed the address has not previously being linked with suspicions of terrorism.
The improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have since been made safe and are undergoing further forensic examination. The full tests will take up to two days and will tell detectives how sophisticated the devices were, whether they were viable and the intent behind making them, and also help them work out the level of skill involved.
The Metropolitan police’s counterterrorism command is leading the investigation because of the find of explosive materials. The UK’s threat level from terrorism is at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
Detectives at this stage are not ruling out that there was no terrorist intent.