UK police hunt suspect who fled bomb car (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

UK police hunt suspect who fled bomb car

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer
50 minutes ago

LONDON - Police mounted increased patrols in a jittery London
Saturday as detectives conducted an intense hunt for a man seen
running from an explosives-packed car in the heart of the city's
entertainment district.

Two Mercedes loaded with gasoline, gas canisters and nails were
found abandoned Friday in what police believe was an attempt to
kill scores or even hundreds of people. Detectives said they were
keeping an open mind about the perpetrators, but terrorism experts
said the signs pointed to an al-Qaida-linked or inspired cell.

Scotland Yard would not comment on a report by ABC News in the
United States that police had a "crystal clear" picture of one
suspect from CCTV footage.

Forensics experts were searching the two cars for clues. One was
abandoned outside a nightclub in Haymarket, a busy street of shops,
clubs and restaurants just yards from Trafalgar Square and
Piccadilly Circus.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070630/ap_on_re_eu/britain_car_bombs

[CJCRANE]

1. I hope they release the picture soon n/t

[quickesst]

2. Maybe somebody...

can help me out with a couple of questions. How is a cellphone used as a trigger for gas can explosions without being wired to the explosives. Ringing, I believe, won't cut it. If it was wired to the explosives, and, as claimed, a London police officer reached in and "turned it off", wouldn't they actually wait for the bomb squad if it were actually wired? A wireless signal would also need a reciever to detonate the gas cans, wouldn't it? I'm not a tech guy, but if you place a cellphone on top of a mountain of gas canisters, wouldn't it ring till the cows come home without detonating that mountain of gas cans? I admit I am not real savvy with technology, but being curious, I am hoping one of the many here with the savvy, can enlighten me. I also wonder why the perpetrators can go to these lengths, and not be aware of the many cameras on the streets. To me, that's a no-brainer, and would think masking one's identity would be a given. Thanks.
quickesst

[madrchsod]

3. that "bomb" would`t have caused any serious damage

gasoline does`t explode, it burns,the bbq gas bottles peel open when they "explode"...big fire ball but that`s about it

[Solo_in_MD]

4. I agree the bombs as described were pretty weak, not all bomb makers are as good as others

[Eugene]

5. Possibly a spark from a cell phone igniting a car full of gas fumes.

According to this Reuters story, Police study CCTV images after London bomb plot,
the car outside the Tiger Tiger night club was "smoking" with gas fumes. Cell phones
have a low but real risk of sparks, that's why they are banned at gas stations.

Detonating the bomb was long shot, but with enough misting, that gasoline could have
gone off like dynamite.