 Arrests have been made in Yorkshire after the identity of the suspected London bus bomber led police to make raids in Leeds and Luton. Security sources told the BBC the bus bomb suspect died in the blast but it is unclear if it was a suicide bombing.
| At least one article I saw pooh-poohed his existence. I guess the coppers were playing that one close to their collective chest... |
In Leeds a controlled explosion was carried out to gain access to a house, as part of a search of six premises.
"Jones! Open the door!"
"It's locked, sir!"
"Bring up the plastique! Give 'em a dose of their own medicine!" |
Police have exploded a car in Luton which they believe may be connected to the attacks that killed 52.
| "Good job, Jones! Now blow their new car!" |
An unoccupied house in the Burley area of Leeds was one of six raided in Leeds after the attacks.
| Was it unoccupied at the time of the raid? Or just normally unoccupied? (Where do they get these writers?) |
Police in Leeds are looking for explosives and have already seized some material. Up to 600 people have been evacuated from the area as part of the operation.
"Jones! Evacuate those people!"
"Yes, sir! How far?"
"Move them to Jersey! That's a pretty big 'un in there!" |
Police cleared people from homes as well as a mosque, a health centre and an old people's home.
| "Heh? Whuzzat, sonny? Jersey, y'say? Lemme get my sweater..." |
Parts of the Beeston area of Leeds has been cordoned off, as well as a street in Dewsbury near the city. Inspector Miles Himsworth said the operation was being led by the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist officers with the support of West Yorkshire Police and the Army Bomb Disposal Unit. He said the house at which the controlled explosion took place officers were searching for explosives and other material. He said that may include computers, and a "careful and meticulous search" would be carried out.
"Make sure you get all the droopy disks and such, Jones!"
"That's 'floppy disks,' sir..."
"Whatever they're called! Just make sure you're careful and meticulous!" |
Anti-terrorism officers launched the first raids in the Leeds area on six houses at about 0630 BST. One evacuated resident Nathan Clark, said people were "shocked" at what was happening. "Everyone is amazed that it is happening on their doorstep," he told BBC News.
| "We thought for sure it'd be on somebody else's doorstep..." |
The police mood is said to be "buoyant" about the developments.
"Jones! Tell the men to stop that infernal cheering! I can't hear myself think!"
"Yessir!"
"And remind them that proper British policemen do not say 'Yeeee-hawwww!" |
Meanwhile in Luton the railway station has been closed and a cordon placed around an area that also covers the bus station and parts of Luton University campus.
| "Going somewhere, Mahmoud? Stick 'em up!" |
Police said a car they believe may be connected to the London bombs has been found in the car park.
"What makes you think it's connected, sir?"
"Oh, come, Jones! It's chock full of dynamite!"
"Well, it could be connected with some other bombing, couldn't it?" |
Earlier the Met commissioner Sir Ian Blair confirmed the operation "is directly connected to the outrages on Thursday". |