Letter bomber suspect has been arrested

A primary school caretaker has been arrested on Monday in Cambridgeshire in connection with the recent series of letter bomb attacks in which nine people were injured.

The multi force operation that led to the arrest, Operation Hansel, is being led by Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, Thames Valley Police (TVP) and national coordinator for domestic extremism. He said the investigation had reached a significant stage.

“Operation Hansel has made considerable progress during the last week. The operation continues to be a multi force investigation which is being led by TVP, but has had strong support from the Metropolitan and Cambridgeshire police throughout, as well as from a number of other law enforcement agencies.”

The suspect, Miles Cooper, was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning at a house in Cherry Hinton, near Cambridge. He is the caretaker at Teversham Church of England primary school at Teversham.

ACC Setchell added: “The suspect is being held in an undisclosed police station. Forensic search teams are commencing what is going to be a lengthy search of a residential address in Cambridge.”

However, he added: “At this stage I am not able to guarantee that there is not another postal package containing an explosive device within the postal service.”