An unknown activist or group has been sending potentially lethal bombs to addresses around the United Kingdom for two months. Evening Press crime reporter DAVID WILES speaks to the senior North Yorkshire police officer leading the investigation

THE terror campaign began on December 15, when a nail bomb was sent to an agricultural supplier in Masham, North Yorkshire. It did not explode and no one was injured, but later recipients of similar packages were not so lucky.

Only two weeks later a six-year-old girl received leg injuries when a bomb detonated at a pest control business in Congleton, Cheshire.

On January 5, a 58-year-old farmer in the Ripon area was wounded in the face when a device containing half-inch carpet tacks exploded. And at Patrington in East Yorkshire on the same day, a female employee of an estate agents sustained a severe facial injury when another package was opened.

Since that day a further nine devices, each enclosed in a Jiffy bag, have been sent to businesses ranging from a charity shop in Cumbria to a fish and chip shop in North Wales.

The most recent targets were a Thirsk-based agricultural company and an address in the Scottish Borders, both of which received a letter bomb on Monday.

The only thing that links the almost random attacks is the fact that all the targets have a tenuous connection with animal rights issues. No one has claimed responsibility.

Peter Walker, the deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, is in overall charge of the operation to track the bomber, code named Packet. He has spent much of the last few weeks travelling the country, meeting the officers dealing with each case and briefing chief constables.

Around the UK, where more than 100 detectives from ten forces are on the case, officers believe they are dealing with animal rights activists, but there is little to go on. At this stage it is still unclear whether it is one person or a group of activists behind the bombing campaign.

And the nature of the businesses on the receiving end also yields few clues. So officers have little idea who is sending the bombs, and who could receive the next one.

"It is a very broad range of people who are being targeted, and that is why it is so dangerous and so horrific," said Mr Walker.

"It is indiscriminate. Whoever is doing this can send the devices from anywhere to anywhere. These are cowardly crimes - there is no bravery involved - but they are easy to commit."

Mr Walker believes it is only by good fortune that there has not yet been loss of life, but he said the psychological effects on the victims had been considerable.

"Even if the devices do not go off, it is enormously frightening and traumatic for anyone to have one of these things arrive at their premises," he said. "Regardless of injury, it is absolutely horrific."

The woman injured in Patrington could lose the sight in one eye, according to Mr Walker.

"It just shows how this kind of criminal extremism can ruin people's lives," he said.

If you have any information about the bombings, contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

david.wiles@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:27 Saturday, February 17, 2001