IR A- AGAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 7

IR A- AGAIN

BOMB SENSATION .LONDON TUBE STATIONS OFFICES WRECKED THE POLICE ACTIVE [By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) I LONDON, Feb. 3. Explosions believed to have been caused by time bombs hidden in suitcases in cloakrooms at the Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square tube stations occurred at 5.5 a.m. and 6.20 a.m. to-day respectively, and caused a sensation in London. A ticket collector at Tottenham Court Road station was seriously injured by a door which was hurled from its hinges, seven people were slightly injured, and many travellers were treated tor shock. The booking and luggage offices were wreckeu. Fortunately few passengers wcr_ travelling by train when the explosion occurred. Special squads of police were rushed up, but normal services were maintained and passengers were permitted to leave the station but were prevented from entering. Thousands of business men and women were forced to join trains at other stations. Widespread Effect. Shop windows a hundred yards distant were shattered and whole blocks of flats in which hunderds of persons were sleeping were shaken. ele ” phone cabinets were wrecked and doors burst open. The glazed wail tiles of the booking office were broke.. and luggage strewn in confusion. Twisted metal, splintered woodwork, and broken glass were scattered at beth stations.

Great cracks split the ceiling outside the Leicester Square cooking office. The cloakroom was a chaotic scene. Luggage was burst open lulu burnt, the racks buckled, and brickwork blown out. A tobacconists shop was completely wrecked. Henry Long, a porter at Tottenham Court Road station, said that passengers were going up the escaiator wen the explosion occurr u "Two women were blown down, h--said. "I ran up to warn others, and saw a ticket collector lying on the floor with his legs broken. Eye-witnesses at Leicester Square station said that they heard a sounu like a heavy object beinfe droppeu and felt the ground tremble. They saw a vivid flash, followed by clouus of acrid smoke. Waterpipes at the Tottenham Com. Road station burst and flooded the station till the supply was cut oil Heavy columns of smoke poured out of both stations and mingled with the heavy fog, adding to the confusion. The police found among the wreckage at Tottenham Court Road station small twisted pieces of metal, probably the timing mechanism of an alarm clock. Official Statement. The Passenger Transport Board issued an official statement, in whicn it said that the staff at Tottenham Court Road station noticed a red glow behind the door of the cloakroom which was followed immediately oy an explosion, which wrecked the interior of the cloakroom, flinging tuc door across the ticket hall and breaking the ticket collector’s leg. It describes the dafnage at Leicester Square station as the more serious, and adds that orders were immediately issued for all other cloakrooms to be examined. No more deposits of luggage will be accepted unless it is opened for inspection. Special police guards are being placed at other tuoe stations, and cloakrooms at the main line terminus are being examined. The authorities immediately informed the Ulster Government, whicn is making intensive inquiries and seeking clues in Northern Ireland, speciaily among I.R.A. supporters. After a conference, oplice chiefs and representatives of Scotland Yard mobilised all their resources in order to detect the perpetrators of the outrage. Police Conviction. The police are convinced that the outrage was the worn of Irish republican sympathisers. T hey believ. that the bomb was placed in the Tottenham Court Road station luggage office before it closed at midnight. They took a statement iron: two women residing in Imperial Mansions, overlooking the station, alleging that they saw a young man rush .out from the tube entrance immediately after the explosion. REFERENCE IN COMMONS [ British Official Wireles- 1 RUGBY, Feb. 4. The Home Secretary, Sir Samue Hoare, replying to questions in th< House of Commons in reference ti the tube station explosions, describe! the explosions as serious, and added “I regret to say that two person were seriously injured and consider •able damage was done. Apparent!' the explosions were due to home with time-fuses which were left i. cloakrooms overnight. Investigation are being actively pursued."