A major counter-terrorism investigation is underway in Britain after a bucket bomb was detonated during rush hour on Friday on a packed London underground train at Parsons Green tube station.
ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack, as authorities raised the terror threat level from severe to critical, meaning that another terror attack might be imminent.
The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command and involves hundreds of detectives, with support from the intelligence community. No arrests have so far been made and the attacker remains at large. Some reports suggest that the bomber has been identified on CCTV footage, but the police have so far declined to confirm the information, The Times of Israel reported.
Commuters on the tube train described scenes of terror and panic after the explosion sent a “fireball” and a “wall of flame” through the carrier in west London. At least 29 people were injured during the attack, including children, but none were thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.
Police later confirmed the blast was from an IED. Britain’s most senior counter-terror officer Mark Rowley said, “we now assess this was a detonation of an improvised explosive device.”
Pictures and video posted on social media show a white plastic bucket inside a foil-lined shopping bag, which appeared to have wires coming from it, on the floor of the subway car. The device is not believed to have fully detonated and could have been set off on a timer.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the “cowardly” attack.
This is the fifth terror attack in Britain this year.
Meanwhile, Israeli leaders have expressed their solidarity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday tweeted that Israel stands “with PM May and the people of Britain in our common fight against the forces of terror.” The Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, said on social media that “Israel stands in solidarity with the people of London. Our thoughts are with #ParsonsGreen victims & their families at this difficult time.”
The incident took place as the UK Home Office revealed that the number of people arrested for terror-linked offences rose by 68% to a record 379 over the past 12 months, the highest rate since the September 11 attack in 2001.
[Photo: The New York Times / YouTube ]