EXPLOSIONS IN LONDON

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 February 1939, Page 7

EXPLOSIONS IN LONDON

TUBE STATIONS DAMAGED BOMBS LEFT IN PARCELS [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received February 24, 8 a.m.) LONDON, February 3.

Explosions, believed to have been caused by time bombs, hidden in suitcases in the luggage offices at Tottenham Court road and Leicester Square tube stations, occurred early this morning. A ticket collector at Tottenham Court road was seriously injured by a door hurled from its hinges. Numerous travellers were treated foi' shock. The booking luggage offices were wrecked. Fortunately few were travelling by train, when the explosions occurred.

Special squads of police were rushed up, but the normal services were maintained. Passengers were permitted to leave the stations, but were prevented from entering. Thousands going to business were forced to join the trains at other stations. LATER. ' Simultaneous explosions at both stations flung woodwork in every direction. Shop windows a hundred yards distant were shattered. Whole blocks of flats, wherein hundreds were sleeping, were shaken. Telephone cabinets were wrecked, doors burst open, and the glazed wall tiles of the booking offices broken. Luggage, was strewn in wild confusion.

Water pipes for Tottenham Court road burst, and flooded the station, until the supply was cut off. Heavy columns of smoke poured out from both stations, mingled with the heavy fog; and added to the confusion. The police are convinced the outrage was the work of I.R.A. sympathisers. They believe the bomb was placed in the Tottenham Court road luggage office before the midnight closing. They took a statement from two women residing at 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 were posted at all the principal underground staitoas. Tottenham Court road was re-opened to the public at 9.30. The explosion at Tottenham Court road occurred at 5.55 a.m., and at Leicester Square at 6.20 a.m., in each case in the cloakroom. There were seven casualties, only slightly injured. Twisted metal, splintered woodwork, and broken glass were scattered over both stations. Great cracks split the ceiling outside Leicester Square booking office. The cloakroom presented a chaotic scene. Luggage was bui st open and burnt, racks were buckled and brickwork blown out. A tobacconist’s shop was completely wrecked. The police, acting on suspicion that the I.R.A. were responsible, are again combing the Irish quarteis.

HOME SECRETARY’S STATEMENT

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, February 3.

Sir S. Hoare, replying to a Commons question, with reference to the tube station explosions, described the - plosions as serious. He added: “I regret to say that two persons were seriously injured ami considerable damage was done. Apparently the explosions flue to bombs with time fuses, left m cloak rooms overnight. Investigations are being actively pursued.

EYE-WITNESSES’ DESCRIPTION

(Recd. February 4, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 3. Henry Long, a porter at Tottenham Court Road, said there, were eight passengers going up the escalatoi when the explosion occurred. Ivo women were blown down. “I ran up to warn others and saw a ticket collector lying on the floor with his legs broken.” , , „ Eye-witnesses at Leicester Squaie said that they heard a heavy object dropped, and felt the ground tremble. They saw a vivid flash, folio-wed by clouds of acrid smoke. The police found among the wreckage at Tottenham Court Road, small twisted pieces of metal, probably the timing mechanism of an alarm clock. The Passenger Board officially’ stated that the officials at Tottenham Court Road noticed a red glow behind the cloakroom door, followed immediately by an explosion, -wrecking the interior of the cloakroom, flinging a door across the ticket hall, breaking a ticket collector's leg. It describes the damage a>t Leicester Square as more- serious.

The statement laddsU Orders were immediately issued that all othei cloakroms be examined, and no more deposits are to be. accepted unless opened, for inspection. A special police guard is being placed at other tube'stations. Cloakrooms at the main line termini are being examined. The authorities immediately informed the Ulster Government, which is intensively inquiring into clues in Northern Ireland, especially among I.R.A. supporters. After a conference, police chiefs at Scotland Yard mobilised all their resources to detect those committing the outrages.