I.R.A. SUSPECTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 9

I.R.A. SUSPECTED.

POLICE THEORIES,

Authorities Combing Irish Quarter of London.

CLUES SENT TO ULSTER. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON", February 3. The police are convinced that the bomb outrages are the work of Irish Republican Army sympathisers and believe the . bomb was placed in .Tottenham Court luggage office before the midnight closing.

They took a statement from two women residing in Imperial Mansions overlooking the station, who allege that they saw a young man rush out from the tube entrance immediately after the explosion.

Squads of police have been posted at all principal underground stations throughout London. Tottenham Court was reopened to the public at 9.30 a.m.

The authorities immediately, informed the Ulster Government, which is intensively -inquiring into clues in North Ireland, especially J.R.A. supporters.

After a confereii<" the police chiefs at Scotland Yard mo.ilised all resources to .detect those, responsible for the outrages.

It was later -reported that the explosion at Tottenham Court Road occurred at 5.5.1 a.m. and at Leicester Square at 0.20, in each case ill the cloakroom. There were seven casualties, all slightly injured.

Twisted metal, splintered woodwork and broken glass were scattered at both stations, and great cracks split the ceiling outside Leicester Square booking office. The cloakroom presented a chaotic scene. Luggage was burst open and burnt. The racks, were buckled and brickwork blown out, and the tobacconist's shop •• was completely wrecked.

The police, acting on suspicion that the . I.R.A. is responsible, are again combing the Irish quarters.

Henry Long,' a porter at Tottenham Court, said that there were eight passengers going up the escalator when the explosion occurred. Two women were blown down. v

"I ran up, to warn the others and saw the ticket collector "lying on the floor with his legs broken," lie said.

Eye-witnesses at Leicester Square said tliev heard,a sound like a heavy object being dropped and felt the ground tremble. They saw a vivid flash, followed by clouds of acrid smoke.