Shock at 'ferocious' blast

Bomb target: Territorial Army barracks

Local residents and colleagues of an injured cadet have told of their shock at the "ferocious" blast that ensued as a bomb detonated at a London army base.

A couple near the Territorial Army base in Shepherd's Bush said the force of the blast shook their home 100 yards away.

Alf Baker, 73, and his wife Rose, 65, said: "It was a really loud bang, a real boom and it shook the building."

Mr Baker added: "It's very worrying as nothing like this as never happened here before."

The 14-year-old cadet who lost a hand in the explosion is still in intensive care at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

One of his colleagues told how the blast made a noise "like two trains colliding".

BBC staff hear explosion

The 19-year-old TA sergeant added: "I didn't see any flames, but I was shocked by the noise and ferocity of the blast."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said 24 cadets had been on parade at the base last night, accompanied by three adults.

The building is the base for the Fourth Battalion Parachute Regiment 10 (London) company of the Territorial Army.

One mother, whose two boys are members of the same cadet force, told of her shock at the news.

"My boys were upstairs at the time and heard a loud bang," said the woman, who did not want to be named.

"He is a lovely lad. He used to stay with my children and he is really caring.

"His parents must be gutted because you wouldn't expect this to happen when you send your children to a TA centre."

The base is next to the BBC Television Centre in White City and the blast was heard by many BBC staff.

It is also on the same road as Queen's Park Rangers' football club ground, Loftus Road, and is just yards from a school.

Local councillor Reg McLaughlin said he had received a number of calls from worried residents.