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Teen arrested over London tube attack; Police hunt other potential suspects

(Xinhua)    09:24, September 17, 2017
Teen arrested over London tube attack; Police hunt other potential suspects
A police vehicle patrols on a street in London, Britain on Sept. 16, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that the terror threat level is raised to critical, which means a further terrorist attack in Britain may be imminent. (Xinhua/Stephen Chung)

As British detectives continued to question a teen Saturday night following Friday's bomb attack on a London underground train, the capital's top cop said: "London has not stopped after other terrible attacks and it will not stop after this one."

The latest figure puts at 35 the number of people injured when a home-made bomb exploded on an underground train at Parsons Green tube station.

Luckily the device failed to detonate properly, otherwise it could have caused a massive number of casualties on the crowded commuter train transporting people to their workplaces in London.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick went out on patrol in central London Saturday after traveling on the underground.

As she chatted to tourists and Londoners, armed anti-terror police surrounded a house in Sunbury-on-Thames, just over 17 kilometers from where the bomb went off on a train at Parsons Green station.

A specialist team carried out a detailed search of the property as a 100-meter cordon was thrown around the immediate area.

In London the interior minister, Home Secretary Amber Rudd chaired a meeting of Britain's top level security committee, known as Cobra. Rudd said the country's terror threat would remain at the highest level of critical, signifying that an attack was imminent.

She also said the arrest of an 18-year-old man ealier on Saturday in the English Channel port town of Dover was very significant. Rudd said: "There is no doubt that this was a serious IED, it was good fortune that it did so little damage."

British police said a number of items have been recovered at the port of Dover, Britain's busiest departure point for sea journeys to mainland Europe, following the arrest of the 18-year-old man.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said that officers had to partially evacuate the port of Dover following the "significant" arrest in the departure area.

A precautionary search of the port turned up "a number of items", Basu said. They were found following the arrest of the man "on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

"We are still pursuing numerous lines of enquiry, and at great pace," Basu told reporters. "Our priorities are ... to identify and locate any other potential suspects."

The swoop on the house in Sunbury in the county of Surrey came hours after the teen was arrested by the Kent Police force under terror laws near to the port. Media reports were speculating that the suspect may have been planning to flee the country aboard one of the many regular channel ferries.

The Metropolitan police said in a statement that no arrests had been made at the Surrey house, but the police cordon would remain in place until the operation is completed.

Reports in various media said the couple residing at the raided house was an elderly husband and wife who had been rewarded by Queen Elizabeth for looking after children as foster parents.

More armed police were on duty at major buildings and popular tourism spots around London, while the number of cops patrolling the streets was also increased.

Commissioner Dick said: "London has not stopped after other terrible attacks and it will not stop after this one.

"We are pleased that there has been a significant arrest this morning but the investigation continues and updates on this will be provided.

"I have joined officers out in central London today, meeting Londoners and visitors. It is a simple message, but a powerful one, to see London getting on with its business enjoying the weekend and everything the city has to offer," she said, urging the public to remain vigilant.

So far, 45 witnesses have been interviewed by police, while officers checks video recordings looking for clues.

With the security level at its critical level, police in major towns and cities across the country have increased security measures. Up to 1,000 soldiers have also been dispatched to key sites across the country to free up armed police officers needed to guard ports and key buildings.


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