Alleged ‘Bomb’ Explosion at Mosque in Tipton in UK: Police

U.K. counter-terrorism police are investigating and explosion that took place near a mosque in Tipton, located in West Midlands, on Friday.
Alleged ‘Bomb’ Explosion at Mosque in Tipton in UK: Police
Jack Phillips
7/12/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

U.K. counter-terrorism police are investigating and explosion that took place near a mosque in Tipton, located in West Midlands, on Friday.

Several streets were sealed off by authorities on Friday after residents heard a large explosion-like sound near a mosque.

“Police have been called to Binfield Street in Tipton this afternoon following reports of a loud explosion,” West Midlands said in a press release.

Residents told the paper that they have found debris in the area, including nails, suggesting that there was a bomb packed with shrapnel.

“Some residents have reported finding debris in the area and finding nails. This is being investigated by counter terrorism detectives and forensic officers at the scene,” the release added. “There are no reports of any injuries to anyone at this time. An investigation is being led by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit and it is being treated as a terrorist incident.”

 The reported explosion went off just hours after Drummer Lee Rigby’s funeral.

Office worker Rai Khan told the Daily Mail: “I heard the nail bomb go off. There was one hell of an almighty bang. It shook my office and really made me jump.”

He continued: “There were nails strewn all over the place, I am amazed it didn’t kill anybody.”

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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