Police renew election bomb alert

A BBC camera crew filmed the explosion

Dissident republican terrorists, including the Real IRA, could be plotting a number of attacks in the run-up to the general election, police have warned.

Anti-terrorist experts from the Metropolitan Police said the attacks could be "graver" than the bomb at the BBC in March, and there was always the danger they could match the devastating scale of the Omagh bomb in 1998.

We have got grounds for concern to fear present terrorist intentions to attack the election process

Met Police Anti-terrorist squad

Terrorist attacks escalated at the time of the 1992 and 1997 general elections, and experts fear the pattern will be repeated in the run-up to 7 June.

Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations David Veness said the number of attacks in Northern Ireland had also accelerated this year, with the current total already matching the 10 explosions there last year.

Next Friday is the anniversary of the explosion at Hammersmith Bridge in West London, which marked the first in a series of six attacks in the capital.

Mr Veness said: "The danger is graver than the bomb at BBC Wood Lane.

"One looks in sheer horror at the impact of Omagh with all the death and tragedy that it caused - that remains the most significant challenge that this particular grouping represents."

'Different bombing tactics'

During the last campaign terrorists targeted road and rail networks but recently have shown slightly different tactics, he said.

"There is a trend around nationally symbolic, significant targeting but that can be very broad-ranging."

London under fire

June 2000 - Hammersmith Bridge bomb

July 2000 - Device near railway lines, Acton, west London

September 2000 - Rocket fired at MI6 HQ in Vauxhall

March 2001

Taxi bomb outside BBC studios, west London

April/May 2001 - Two explosions at Royal Mail office, north-west London

Recent attacks have focused on organisations such as the Royal Mail and the BBC, he said.

"We have got grounds for concern to fear present terrorist intentions to attack the election process," he said.

Mr Vennes was commenting as the Metropolitan Police launched its second counter-terrorist advertising campaign in six months to urge the public to remain vigilant for suspicious packages.

Six London radio stations will carry the commercial from Saturday until the end of electioneering, warning people to report anything suspicious and urging landlords and car dealers to be vigilant about their tenants and customers.

Vulnerable locations

Asked if he thought a Real IRA cell was based in the capital, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry head of the anti-terrorist branch, said: "We have people who appear to know their way around London which suggests that one or more may have resided in London.

"There are some indications that we may have a number of people living in or around the capital.

"But of course timed devices would have given them the opportunity to leave these shores."

Hammersmith Bridge was targeted last year

In recent days the capital has been "reinforced" with extra armed patrols, more CCTV, increased vehicle checks and "a specific focus on what we regard as particularly vulnerable locations," said Mr Fry.

He urged the public to be extra vigilant between now and the election and report anything suspicious.

People with information can contact the confidential hotline number on 0800 789 321.