Three Letter Bombs in England Prompt U.S. Alert

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January 19, 2007 3:12 PM

The Department of Homeland Security Friday issued an alert to U.S. law enforcement officials after three letter bombs exploded earlier today in England.

A woman was reportedly injured as she was opening a letter that exploded at a DNA testing firm in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The DHS alert said there was no apparent link to any terrorist threat in the United States or any link to "international terrorism."

Authorities were investigating links to animal rights activists groups, sources said, based on the research companies targeted and other information. At least one international animal rights group is headquartered in England and has used explosive devices in the past.

"According to open source information, at least three explosive devices were sent as 'letter bombs' to three separate corporate offices. Press reports indicate that one of the devices exploded at or about 9:15 a.m. local time at an Orchid Cellmark facility in Backlands Way, U.K. as an employee opened a package. Press reports also indicate that two additional companies, LOC Forensics located in Clam, Oxfordshire and Forensic Science Service in Birmingham called local authorities around 1:45 p.m. local time indicating they too had rece ived packages which contained explosive devices," the alert from the DHS chief intelligence officer stated.

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"At this time, U.K. authorities are continuing their investigation into these events, and FBI is attempting to obtain additional details. At this time, we do not believe there is any link with these events to any threats to the homeland or international terrorism," the alert stated.