LONDON BOMB OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

LONDON BOMB OUTRAGE.

EXPLOSION IN POST OFFICE.

PACKAGE SENT FROM BELFAST.

FOUR OFFICIALS INJURED. DRIVER'S, LUCKY ESCAPE. I A* mysterious explosion, attributed to a bomb sent through the parcel post, occurred on October 3 at the Mount Pleasant sorting office of the General Post Office in London. It resulted in the wrecking of a mail van and injury to

four postal workers. Scotland Yard officers investigating the occurrence/ were firmly of opinion that the explosion wm caused by an iron bomb, charged with powder, and so made that it yould explode either by detonation or by a small clock-work mechanism. It was established that the bomb had been conveyed to Mount Pleasant with other parcels from Belfast. The bomb was intended for a recipient in London, whose address could not be ascertained. It is known, however, that lhe parcel was consigned to the south-western district of London. This wide area includes the Government Offices in Whitehall, a large residential district, and Buckingham Palace. No fragments of any container were found by the officials investigating the affair. But there seems no doubt that the bomb consisted of a highly-explosive powder, and that it was fired by a cap coming in contact with a hard substance, or by a small clock-work mechanism.

Four mail-bags containing parcels had been thrown into the van, and the explosion occurred as a fifth bag, containing six parcels, was thrown in by ono of tho Post Office porters. The force of the explosion was so violent that it broke a hole through the floor of the van and shattered the sides. Four men who were near at- hand suffered severely from concussion. Search for Fragments. Tho contents of the first four bags were damaged, although not severely. Strangely enough, of tho six parcels contained in tho fifth b/ig, - one was found to be entirely undamaged. It was the postal mark on this parcel which proved definitely that the bag had been, consigned from Belfast. The pared had been taken from Enston station to/Mount Pleasant. From the latter place it was being forwarded to the South-Western District Office in Howick Place, Victoria Street. Every scfap of material picked up and the wrecked mail van itself were taken to Scotland Yard, and were minutely examined by/the.Home Office explosive inspectors. They found nothing which broke down their theory that it was a bomb which caused the'explosion. It was regarded as significant that the southwestern district office is that from which are delivered parcels and letters for all the Government offices in Whitehall, Scotland Yard, various Embassies, and other important offices, and for Buckingham Palace. /A Terrific Report. A postal - worker who was in the vicinity described the circumstances leading up to the explosion. He said: — "Four bags had already been put in the van, and as soon as the fifth one was thrown in there was a terrific report. The entire upper structure of' the van was blown clean away in a flash, and all that remained of the bag and its contents was a mass of scattered fragments. It was impossible to tell afterwards what was the nature of tho explosive substance in the y bag. If it was not a bomb, it was something equally dangerous. "The report was heard all over Mount Pleasant, which is about a mile square. I should say that the two luckiest men of all were the driver and the man who threw the bag in. The driver had left his seat and was just preparing to crank-up liis machine when his seat was blown off tho van. "The other man just stepped back as ..the bag landed inside. Although he was i knocked down with three others, he avoided the full force of tho explosion." Post Office officials expressed the view that the explosion had no political sigj - nificance sd far as the Imperial Conference • was concerned. Inquiries in Belfast. " There is no doubt whatever," said .0110 official, " that tho bag did contain a * dangerous .explosive. What it was in- - tended for wo cannot say, but its purpose /'•has certainly miscarried. Personally .1 think it .was for use at some later date.

As explosives are prohibited from being sent through the Post Office it remains • for our detective staff to find who the i-tender wtfs3 We shall be able to trace that information after the pieces of the bag have been placed together again. • " The remarkable thing about it all," the official added, " is that the consequences were not more serious. The bag had evidently passed through dozens of hands in transit, and the fact that the explosion occurred when and where it did was decidedly a piece of good luck." There/was a dramatic development at Benast on October 7'in connection with the explosion. Scotland Yard detectives, accompanied by members of the postal investigation department, arrived in the city and began exhaustive inquiries. Sorters and other oflicials who handled 'the consignment in which the explosive parcel was seftt wore questioned, and investigation was also made into complaints of undelivered parcels in the consignment. ft was stated that the authorities had secured a duo which might lead to surprising developments. Famous Street and Site. Tlio Parcel Post Office in Mount Pleasant, is a vast structure, completed in .1900, on tTio site of the Coldbath House of Correction, a prison from 1794 to 1877. Formerly the street was known as Dorrington Street, in which stood the Apple Tree Taverji, a favourito resort of prisoners just discharged from gaol. In this street lived Henry Carey, author of " Sally in Our Alley," and here Dickens located Mr. and Mrs. Smalhveed with their grandchildren. It is said that Mount Pleasant has the quickest and largest " counter trade " in the world. Parcels for India and America arc so numerous that they are cleared in vanloads day by day, and sent to Tilbury or other ports.