More time for letter bomb police

The bomb went off in a cafe packed with customers

Police investigating a spate of letter bomb attacks by suspected animal rights activists have been granted extra time to question three people.

Two men and a woman are being interviewed about an attack on a fish and chip shop in north Wales in January, as well as 11 other letter bombs sent to premises in northern England.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said the additional time authorised by magistrates would "enable further forensic examinations, interviews and other inquiries to be made".

Three letter bombs destined for addresses in North Yorkshire, West Mercia and Wiltshire were intercepted by police and made safe by bomb disposal experts

Police spokesman

The three people now being held by police until 2200GMT on Friday were arrested on Wednesday in the Crewe area of Cheshire following an investigation involving at least five police forces.

A 26-year-old man was detained in connection with explosive offences related to the recent letter bomb campaign against the animal industry.

The 31-year-old woman and the second man, aged 36, were subsequently arrested at addresses in the Crewe area.

Police said they intercepted three devices during the arrest operation, destined for North Yorkshire, West Mercia and Wiltshire, which were later made safe by bomb disposal experts.

The arrests followed an "intense" investigation between North Wales, South Yorkshire, Metropolitan and North Yorkshire police forces.

Their combined investigations stepped up after a parcel - which contained nails - exploded at Davies's fish bar in the north Wales town of Holywell.

It was opened in the shop area which was full of customers, including women and young children at the time. No one was injured.

The bombs were sent through the post

The explosion came a few weeks after police issued a UK-wide warning about suspect packages after a six-year-old girl was injured by a letter bomb at her home.

The package - delivered to an address in Congleton, Cheshire - was believed to be intended for the girl's father who works for a pest control company.

It caused superficial wounds to her legs and feet when she opened it.

A week later in Yorkshire, a 58-year-old sheep farmer near Ripon, received cuts to his face when a nail bomb exploded as he opened a packet.

In a second incident, a woman was taken to hospital after a device exploded as she opened mail delivered to a livestock auction firm in East Yorkshire.