24 October,2016 08:07 AM IST | | Agencies
An investigation by UK's Scotland Yard of an explosive device found on the London Underground network earlier this week has uncovered a linked bomb plot in southwest England
London: An investigation by UK's Scotland Yard of an explosive device found on the London Underground network earlier this week has uncovered a linked bomb plot in southwest England. Metropolitan Police officers cordoned off streets surrounding a property in Newton Abbot in Devon on Saturday, hours after arresting a 19-year-old in north London.
They said the operation in the small market town 200 miles from London was linked to the discovery of a "viable improvised explosive device" on a Tube train in North Greenwich, southeast London, on Thursday.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: "Officers attended an address in Newton Abbot, Devon, as part of inquires into the suspicious item at North Greenwich Underground Station. Whilst there, officers found an item they deemed suspicious. They evacuated the address and alerted the Devon and Cornwall Police, who, in conjunction with SO15, are now dealing with the item."
Searches are continuing at the house in Newton Abbot, but the police say a second device found there was "not viable". The device was found by officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command SO15 as they searched the property on Saturday afternoon.
After the device was declared non-viable, the Devon and Cornwall Police said further forensic searches would continue at the house and a police guard would remain in place. Meanwhile, Westminster Magistrates Court has allowed investigating officers to detain the arrested 19-year-old until October 28.
