Controlled explosion at Ibiza airport

[Mark Gobell]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6256944.stm

Security alert at Ibiza airport

Police have carried out a controlled explosion at the airport on the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza, after the building was evacuated.

The airport was cleared after Basque newspaper Gara, often used for claims by separatist group Eta, said it had received an anonymous threat.

Spain has been on alert since Eta declared an end to a unilateral ceasefire on 5 June.

Ibiza attracts thousands of mainly European holidaymakers annually.

Gara said on its website that it had received a phone call warning of an "explosive device" at the airport.

The building was evacuated at about lunchtime and shortly afterwards a low-level explosion was heard.

Some 300 arrivals and departures were scheduled for Saturday, but the airport has been closed to outgoing and incoming flights, said the AENA airport authority, which controls Spain's airports.

Spanish authorities have been braced for a possible attack since Eta announced the end to what it had called a permanent ceasefire.

Despite the ceasefire, two people were killed in a bomb explosion at Madrid's Barajas airport in December.

[Mark Gobell]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6258936.stm

Controlled explosion in Carmarthen.


Bomb team in controlled explosion
Bomb disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package outside an army careers office in Carmarthen, police say.

It has now been confirmed the package - a suitcase - did not contain an explosive device.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers were called to Lammas Street at around 1130 BST on Sunday and cordoned off the area.

The UK's terrorism threat level was raised to "critical" after attempted attacks in London and Glasgow.

Sergeant Neil Jones, from Carmarthen Police, said bomb disposal officers from Gloucester carried out the controlled explosion shortly after 1500 BST and the road had now been reopened.

"Dyfed Powys police would like to assure the public that safety is our utmost priority, and we ask that all our communities be vigilant and continue to report any suspicious behaviour or packages," he said.

"We would also urge the public to avoid leaving unattended packages unnecessarily."

[Mark Gobell]

M6 closes during chemical blaze

Fire at Red Scar Industrial Estate

A plume of smoke rises from the fire: pic from Archie McAteer

Eye-witness video

Part of the M6 has been closed after a fire at a waste disposal unit on a Lancashire industrial estate.

Drums of chemicals caught fire and were exploding on the Veolia Cleanaway site on the Red Scar industrial estate in Ribbleton, police said on Monday.

People living nearby are being advised to stay indoors and close all windows and doors.

The motorway has been closed between junctions 31 at Samlesbury and the M55 at junction 32.

The emergency services are at the scene.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said 10 pumps were fighting the fire, which started at about 0600 BST.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6260064.stm

[Mark Gobell]

Second fire at university campus

A fire took hold at a university campus in north-west London for the second time in 48 hours.

About 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire at the University of Westminster, in Harrow on Sunday night.

The brigade said there were no reports of casualties but 30% of a three-floor classroom block was damaged.

It comes after a hazard zone was set up at the Watford Road campus on Friday night during a fire involving a number of gas cylinders.

Fire crews spent Saturday cooling the cylinders and damping down.

The second fire was brought under control by 0200 BST on Monday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6259814.stm