Three hurt in letter bomb

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) A letter bomb exploded at Britain's vehicle licensing agency today, injuring three women, in a spate of attacks targetting motoring-related organisations.

Police said seven devices had been sent through the mail in the last three weeks, including three bombs in the last three days. At least seven people have been injured.

Today's blast at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea, south Wales, raised media speculation that an angry motorist had launched a campaign of letter bombs.

One woman was treated for minor burns and two other women suffered hearing injuries, police said, adding that it was too early to say if there was a link to any other attack.

Attacks on Monday and yesterday this week hit offices linked to companies involved in speed cameras and traffic fees.

''I am appealing today for companies, organisations and individuals to take extra care when handling mail,'' Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell said in a statement.

Kent police disclosed today that a 53-year-old man was injured when a letter exploded at his home in Folkestone, southeast England, on Saturday.

Home Secretary (interior minister) John Reid said the explosions were worrying. ''It is important that we allow police to get on with their investigation without undue speculation,'' he said in a statement.

GROUNDSWELL OF ANGER A letter bomb exploded at a business centre in Berkshire, southern England, yesterday at the office of Vantis, a business services firm, injuring two men.

Newspapers reported that the letter was addressed to ''Speed Check Services'' which supplies speed cameras to the police but was sent instead to its accountants.

On Monday, a woman was injured in a letter bomb explosion at the London headquarters of Capita, the firm managing London's congestion charge. The company collects 25 million payments a year from motorists who pay to drive into central London.

Safe Speed, a pressure group which campaigns against the widespread use of speed cameras, condemned the attacks.

''While we don't agree with current road safety policy, that's no excuse for sending letter bombs. It's a behaviour we would roundly condemn,'' the group's founder Paul Smith said.

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