A series of "suspicious package" bomb scares were most likely the work of a "sicko mocking security authorities", an expert has claimed.
Professor Anthony Glees, from the University of Buckingham, made the assessment following controlled explosions at Euston Station, the US Embassy, and a major security alert at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal within the past 24 hours.
The incidents have caused significant disruption, with Gatwick's South Terminal being evacuated for over four hours on Friday and Euston Station cleared on Saturday afternoon.
"It looks to me as if some kind of sicko is on the loose somewhere," Professor Glees told GB News.
The security expert explained that if these incidents were linked to Russian or Iranian state actors, MI5 would likely be more heavily involved and threat levels would have been raised.
"This is probably somebody who lives near Gatwick and goes in and out of London," Professor Glees said. "It's most likely a crackpot that's having fun doing these things."
He suggested the perpetrator might have a specific grievance against authorities, claiming: "My thought would be that there's a psycho on the loose with a grudge, and they are intent on mocking our security authorities."
The professor noted this was "most decidedly not funny" given security services are "working full out keeping us safe." He added: "I would say this is more a case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson than it is for the counter terrorist police."
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The security alert at Gatwick Airport began at 8.20am on Friday when Sussex Police discovered a "suspected prohibited item" in luggage at the South Terminal. The terminal was closed for over four hours while a bomb disposal team investigated. Two people were initially detained but later allowed to continue their journeys after officers "made the package safe".
The disruption affected thousands of passengers, with more than 50 departures and arrivals cancelled, including at least 30 British Airways flights to destinations such as Spain and Portugal. Emergency foil blankets were distributed to passengers waiting in the cold outside the terminal. The South Terminal finally reopened at around 3.45pm.
At the US Embassy in Nine Elms on Friday morning, police carried out a controlled explosion after discovering what they later called a "hoax device".
The Met Police confirmed a "loud bang" was heard as specialist officers dealt with the package outside the embassy building. Earlier today, Euston Station was evacuated after another suspicious package was reported.
Professor Glees warned that while these incidents appear to be hoaxes, they still require serious attention from security services. "This is not helpful in any way at all," he said, noting that the repeated controlled explosions were destroying potential evidence.
The security expert suggested that someone must have witnessed something given the number of incidents.
"These people obviously should come forward as soon as possible," he urged.
He emphasised that despite likely being the work of a lone actor rather than terrorists, the incidents were straining valuable police resources.
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Professor Anthony Glees, from the University of Buckingham, made the assessment following controlled explosions at Euston Station, the US Embassy, and a major security alert at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal within the past 24 hours.
The incidents have caused significant disruption, with Gatwick's South Terminal being evacuated for over four hours on Friday and Euston Station cleared on Saturday afternoon.
"It looks to me as if some kind of sicko is on the loose somewhere," Professor Glees told GB News.
The security expert explained that if these incidents were linked to Russian or Iranian state actors, MI5 would likely be more heavily involved and threat levels would have been raised.
"This is probably somebody who lives near Gatwick and goes in and out of London," Professor Glees said. "It's most likely a crackpot that's having fun doing these things."
He suggested the perpetrator might have a specific grievance against authorities, claiming: "My thought would be that there's a psycho on the loose with a grudge, and they are intent on mocking our security authorities."
The professor noted this was "most decidedly not funny" given security services are "working full out keeping us safe." He added: "I would say this is more a case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson than it is for the counter terrorist police."
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The security alert at Gatwick Airport began at 8.20am on Friday when Sussex Police discovered a "suspected prohibited item" in luggage at the South Terminal. The terminal was closed for over four hours while a bomb disposal team investigated. Two people were initially detained but later allowed to continue their journeys after officers "made the package safe".
The disruption affected thousands of passengers, with more than 50 departures and arrivals cancelled, including at least 30 British Airways flights to destinations such as Spain and Portugal. Emergency foil blankets were distributed to passengers waiting in the cold outside the terminal. The South Terminal finally reopened at around 3.45pm.
At the US Embassy in Nine Elms on Friday morning, police carried out a controlled explosion after discovering what they later called a "hoax device".
The Met Police confirmed a "loud bang" was heard as specialist officers dealt with the package outside the embassy building. Earlier today, Euston Station was evacuated after another suspicious package was reported.
Professor Glees warned that while these incidents appear to be hoaxes, they still require serious attention from security services. "This is not helpful in any way at all," he said, noting that the repeated controlled explosions were destroying potential evidence.
The security expert suggested that someone must have witnessed something given the number of incidents.
"These people obviously should come forward as soon as possible," he urged.
He emphasised that despite likely being the work of a lone actor rather than terrorists, the incidents were straining valuable police resources.
Find Out More...