Letter bomb suspect appears in court

The school caretaker suspected of sending letter bombs
to companies associated with road enforcement, has been charged with 12 offences
under the Explosives Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act.

Seven of the charges relate to the seven letter bombs allegedly sent by Miles
Cooper, while the others relate to people injured during the blasts after
opening them.

Cooper allegedly targeted several firms, including accountants and tax
advisers Vantis, whose Wokingham office
was used as the business address for a speed camera company and was hit by one
of the bombs.

The 27-year-old appeared before Banbury Magistrates’ Court in Oxfordshire and
has been
remanded
in custody until his next court appearance on March 2.

Anton Setchell – National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism of the
Association of Chief Police Officers – said the investigation into the series of
postal improvised explosive devices will continue for many weeks.

‘Forensic searches at a house in Cherry Hinton, Cambridge are likely to last
for several more days. The staff and pupils at Teversham Primary School,
Cambridge have been very supportive and understanding whilst we have carried out
searches and enquiries there and I am very grateful to them all.

‘As a result of the investigation so far, I am now satisfied that there are
no other postal packages connected to this enquiry that will present a danger to
the public.

‘We have now reached a point in this enquiry at which we have been able to
charge a man with several offences in connection with a series of improvised
explosive devices that were sent through the post to companies and
organisations; the details of those charges will be provided by the Crown
Prosecution Service,’ said Setchell.

Paul Harrison, senior prosecutor for Thames Valley Crown Prosecution Service,
today announced details of charges against Cooper.

‘We have been working with the police since last Sunday 18th February 2007
advising on a number of preliminary legal issues both before and after arrest.

‘As this case has developed we have been carefully examining and assessing
the evidence in order to come to a charging decision at the earliest possible
opportunity.

‘Earlier today I made the decision that there was sufficient evidence and
authorised that Miles Cooper should be charged with 12 offences contrary to the
Explosive Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act. We will
continue to keep this case under constant review as it develops,’ said Harrison.

Further reading:

Police
statement and list of charges

Letter bomb at Vantis was one of six
devices

Vantis letter bomb suspect named