London and Glasgow parcel bombs linked to devices sent to army centres

A series of parcel bombs sent to locations in London and Glasgow earlier this year have been connected to devices targeting army offices in 2014.

Anti-terror investigators have said they are now "formally linking" the incendiary devices posted in March and explosives sent to military recruitment centres five years ago.

A main line of inquiry is that the latest packages were sent by "a violent dissident republican group", according to Scotland Yard.

At the time, a group claiming to be the New IRA said it was responsible for the bombs sent to Waterloo railway station and offices at Heathrow and London City airports.

It also claimed it had posted a package to the University of Glasgow and said a fifth had been sent.

A further bomb bound for Charing Cross was subsequently found in a Limerick postal depot.

In a fresh appeal for information, detectives said they were particularly keen to hear from any postal workers who may have come into contact with the devices between 1 March and 22 March.

The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism command in conjunction with police in Scotland and Ireland.

Deputy assistant commissioner Dean Haydon said analysis of the five packages had been carried out by forensic experts and, due to particular similarities between the devices, the investigators were now linking the packages to those sent to army recruitment centres in 2014.

He said: "Our enquiries continue, but clearly a key element of the investigation now is the link between the devices previously sent in 2014, and the five sent earlier this year.

"As with any investigation, we will be led by the evidence, but at this stage, our principal line of enquiry is that the devices were sent by a violent dissident republican group.

"The devices that were sent not only put their intended recipients in danger, but also endangered the lives of all those who handled and processed the parcels both in the Republic of Ireland as well as the UK.

"This was an extremely dangerous and reckless act and I would urge anyone who may have information about those responsible to contact police."

No arrests have yet been made.

Anyone with information can contact UK police on 0800 789 321, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.