LONDON : Police are “chasing down suspects” in search of those behind Friday’s rush hour Tube bombing in south-west London.
Hundreds of officers are trawling through CCTV and carrying out forensic investigations following the District Line explosion, which injured 29.
The UK terror threat has been raised to critical – the highest level – meaning an attack may be imminent.
Security Minister Ben Wallace told media a “manhunt” was under way for the “bomber or bombers” responsible. The Islamic State group has said it was behind the bomb, which detonated at 08:20 BST at Parsons Green station.
The station reopened in the early hours of Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was “very routine” for IS to claim the attack “whether or not they’ve had any previous engagement with the individuals involved”. He asked the public to remain “vigilant”, but said people should “not be alarmed”.
Announcing the change in the UK threat level on Friday night, Prime Minister Theresa May said the military would be providing support to police and would replace officers on guard duty at national infrastructure sites not accessible to the public.
The use of the military to assist police is part of the first phase of Operation Temperer, a government plan to deploy troops to help police following major terror attacks, which was activated for the first time on 23 May following the Manchester Arena attack.
