Teenager held over Tube bombing at Parsons Green

A teenager has been arrested by detectives investigating the Parsons Green terror bomber in a development described as “significant”. The 18-year-old was detained on suspicion of a terror offence by Kent Police in Dover on Saturday morning (September 16), the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)said. He was detained in the port area of the town, which is the busiest ferry hub in Europe and serves as a commercial gateway to the French coast, including Calais and Dunkirk. The suspect is expected to be moved to a south London police station but MPS Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu stressed that despite being “pleased with the progress made, the investigation continues and the threat level remains at critical. He said: “The public should remain vigilant as our staff, officers and partners continue to work through this complex investigation. “We are not, at this time, changing our protective security measures and the steps taken to free up extra armed officers remain in place. “This arrest will lead to more activity from our officers. For strong investigative reasons we will not give any more details on the man we arrested at this stage.” Although significant, the MPS later added they would not be releasing where the suspect was from, whether he was the suspected bomber or the precise details of the offence for which he was arrested. A huge investigation was launched after an improvised explosive device (IED) partially exploded on a District Line train at Parsons Green station during the Friday morning rush hour (September 15), injuring 30. Most people were treated for minor injuries and have been released but three victims remain in hospital, NHS England confirmed on Saturday. Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said officers were “chasing down suspects”, while suggestions were made by US President Donald Trump that the bomber had “been in the sights of the Metropolitan Police Service” – prompting Theresa May to say it was not helpful to “speculate” on an ongoing investigation. The military has been dispatched to key sites across the country to free up armed police officers after the country`s terror threat level was raised to its highest point. The Prime Minister announced that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre had escalated the status in the wake of the attack. It was the second time this year the country was placed at “critical”, meaning an attack “may be imminent”, Theresa May said – the other occasion being the day after the Manchester Arena suicide bombing which killed 22 people on May 22. The force said it has spoken to 45 witnesses and 77 images and videos have been sent to detectives by members of the public. Friday`s IED – for which the so-called Islamic State (Daesh) claimed responsibility – reportedly contained the explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and nails, but is thought to have only partially detonated from inside a bucket. Parsons Green station was reopened in the early hours of Saturday. There were fears the number of those hurt could have been much higher – with the real potential for life-threatening injuries – had the bomb, which was concealed within a LIDLsupermarket carrier bag, fully exploded. It is not yet known whether the bomb, which was reportedly fixed with a timer, went off at its intended target. The train – bound for Edgware Road – was just pulling into the station in south-west London when the device detonated in the rear carriage, sending passengers fleeing to safety. Security Minister Ben Wallace suggested CCTV images of the bomber could be released as part of the manhunt for those responsible, but the MPS subsequently denied there were any plans to do so. S7 trains such as the one involved in Friday`s incident have video cameras installed inside all seven carriages and there are more than 12,000 cameras across London Underground`s stations and trains. British Transport Police (BTP) officers are helping to trawl through the images. BTP Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith said: “British Tran